Category: Elections

Poll Tax: How Paying to Vote Kept Voters From the Ballot A poll tax was a flat fee citizens had to pay before they could register or vote. Southern states used it from… 6 min readElections Swing States: The Handful of States That Decide Elections Swing states, also called battleground states, are states where either major party can realistically win the presidential vote, so campaigns focus their… 5 min readElections How Does the Electoral College Work? 270, Explained Americans vote for a slate of electors, not directly for president. Each state gets as many electors as it has members of… 6 min readElections Primary Elections Explained: Open, Closed, Caucus and Everything Between Primary elections decide which candidates a party sends to the November general election. Who may vote depends on the state: closed primaries… 6 min readElections