Election Day

Since the founding of the United States, national elections have been key to shaping the country's democratic process.

Description & History

Since the founding of the United States, national elections have been key to shaping the country's democratic process. Election Day is the annual date reserved to hold federal, state, and local general elections and was designated in 1845 by U.S. Code as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November" in even-numbered years. The choice of early November and Tuesday was rooted in the agricultural rhythms of the time. It was after the harvest, before winter weather set in, and avoiding the first of the month which merchants used to settle accounts. Election Day is a public holiday in fifteen states as of 2025, allowing workers the ability to vote in person without missing work.

Professional Learning Resources

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Civic Engagement in the School Library

Molly Dettmann shares how she helps students prepare for life after high school by providing resources, information, and lessons on getting civically involved.
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On the Eve of an Election

Written in advance of the 2020 Presidential Election, blogger Hanna Byrd Little shares ways to find teachable moments and encourage civil discourse.
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Reader. Voter. Ready.

As another series of local, state, and national elections approaches, every eligible American should be informed, registered, and ready to vote. Join ALA's campaign to get every community Reader, Voter, Ready!
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Webinar | Getting Our Communities Reader Voter Ready

This webinar, presented by ALA's Reader Voter Ready initiative, highlights librarians who have honed strategies to expand voter education, increase voter participation, and sustain civic engagement. Panelists include school librarian Lucy Podmore.

BallotReady

BallotReady provides nonpartisan info on every candidate and ballot measure on personalized ballots. Check voter registration, make a plan to vote, and research every candidate and measure on the ballot before heading to the polls.

C-SPAN Classroom: Election Videos

C-SPAN Classroom provides educators with access to thousands of free resources, including short current events videos, Lesson Plans and Bell Ringers, plus Constitution Clips and On This Day in History events.

Library of Congress Classroom Materials: Elections

The LOC offers classroom materials to help educators effectively use primary sources from the library's digital collections in their teaching. This collection explores the past and present of American parties, issues, and the right to vote.

Library of Congress Resource Guide: U.S. Election Statistics

This resource guide compiles a list of online and print resources that contain U.S. election statistics for both federal and state elections.

Learner Engagement Resources

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Ben’s Guide

Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government is designed to inform students, parents, and educators about the Federal Government. The site includes election day information specific for learners ages 4-8, 9-13, and 14+.

Mr.Beat

Social Studies teacher, Matt Beat, creates engaging videos for middle - high school students wanting to learn more about history, civics, and geography. This link contains all of his videos about elections in one list.

27 Ideas for Encouraging Youth Participation in Elections

The Center for Tech and Civic Life shares 27 ideas for engaging youth participation in elections in categories including Engaging Future Voters, Social Media and Online Outreach, and Increasing Youth Turnout.

PBS Election Central

This collection from PBS contains an interactive lesson, videos, media and lesson plans on categories including Civics & Democracy 101, Elections Basics, How Voting Works, and Media in Elections.

iCivics: Election Headquarters

iCivics provides nonpartisan teaching resources to help students learn about state, local, and federal election processes, understand the power of their voice and the vote, and become engaged participants in our nation’s constitutional democracy.

Book Lists

Inspiring Future Voters Booklist

The Inspiring Future Voters booklist, developed for ALA's Reader. Voter. Ready. campaign, is a collection of titles that will help young people understand the importance of voting, civic engagement, and making their voices heard. The list includes fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, from birth to young adult.

Books for birth through grade 8 were compiled by ALSC's Quicklists Consulting committee, and young adult titles were selected by Booklist magazine staff.

Don’t Forget To Vote! Picture Books About Elections and Voting

These fourteen books will help introduce learners to the complexities of the electoral process in terms they can understand.

Social Justice Books- Voting Rights

Diverse and inclusive book recommendations for readers of all ages. Features fiction and non-fiction titles to learn about the people and events that have shaped who gets a vote in American elections.

Diverse Books for Election Day: A Middle and High School Student List

This list of diverse books selected by Colorful Pages contains books for middle school to high school-aged learners to read on, before, or after Election Day to ;earn about voting and our country’s voting rights history.

Counting the Vote

Booklist has a great list of books to share with students in grades 2-12 grade about the voting process.

Booklist YA Vote Recommendation List

Another Booklist recommendation list of books about voting just for teens.

Promotional Resources

27 Ideas for Encouraging Youth Participation in Elections

The Center for Tech and Civic Life shares 27 ideas for engaging youth participation in elections in categories including Engaging Future Voters, Social Media and Online Outreach, and Increasing Youth Turnout.