Selected New York State Election Web Sites
Links on this page go to external web sites.
Election Results | Federal | Newspapers | Political and Citizen Groups | Public Opinion Polls | Register to Vote | State and Local
The websites on the list below cover federal, state, and local representatives; New York State newspapers; political and citizen groups; New York-based public opinion polls; and voter registration information. Many other sources can be identified by using the New York State Library online catalog or by accessing the NOVELNY databases, which are available to New York State residents. New books on politics and government are listed on the Library's website.
Election Results
CNN
Find results for New York State House of Representatives elections.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#NY
New York State Board of Elections
Election results for the races in New York State. Includes links to results on individual county websites.
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/CountyBoards.html
NPR
Interactive map contains results for New York State House of Representatives races.
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008-election-map.html#/house/ny?view=race08
Online NewsHour
Site includes an interactive map of the results of the 2008 election.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/primaries/states
Federal
Federal Election Commission
The Commission governs the financing of federal elections. Under "Quick Answers" determine how much money you can contribute to your favorite candidate.
http://www.fec.gov/
United States House of Representatives
Identify your Congressperson, read about how our laws are made, and apply for a position in the House.
http://www.house.gov/
United States Senate
Obtain biographical information, follow legislation, and more.
http://www.senate.gov/
The White House
Find out what foreign official is visiting Washington today, read the latest Oval Office press releases, or review the history of all the First Ladies.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
Newspapers
Find information about your state and local elections in these New York newspapers.
Legislative Gazette
More than 25 years old, the Legislative Gazette, which follows politics in Albany, is produced by SUNY students majoring in political science and English.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/
New York Times
This newspaper covers a wide variety of political topics for New York State, the United States, and the world. Full text is available without charge for articles in the public domain and articles published from 1987-present.
http://www.nytimes.com/
Newspaper Association of America: New York Newspapers
Includes links to online newspapers around New York State.
http://www.newsvoyager.com/newspaperlist.cfm?sid=ny
Times Union (Albany)
The Albany Times Union is New York's state newspaper of record. It covers the State Capitol, state government, and local Capital District politics.
http://www.timesunion.com/
Political and Citizen Groups
American Civil Liberties Union
The Union works to defend constitutional rights and the rights of segments of the population that have traditionally been denied rights. The ACLU often takes action after an election as they review complaints about poor election practices. The ACLU is also active in the area of voting rights for students. Read about the NYCLU's voter enfranchisement campaign on the Times Square Video Billboard. The New York Civil Liberties Union is an affiliate of the ACLU.
http://www.aclu.org/scotus/2007term/31208res20070713/31208res20070713.html
Citizen Action of New York
This organization is interested in suppressing the influence of large campaign donators.
http://www.citizenactionny.org/campaigns/cmce.html
League of Women Voters
Calling themselves the "Defenders of Democracy," this non-partisan organization influences public policy through education and advocacy. The New York State website provides a guide for first-time voters. It also links to NYS judicial candidate ratings reported by the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commissions.
http://www.lwvny.org/
The New York Republican State Committee
The website for this historical organization contains news stories, lists of events, accomplishments, and directories.
http://www.nygop.org/
New York State Democratic Committee
This historical organization claims to have been started in 1792 by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison during an expedition along the Hudson River. The website offers webcasts, directories, news, and information about its activities.
http://www.nydems.org/
New Yorkers for Verified Voting
This organization is concerned with the accuracy of the new computerized voting process.
http://www.nyvv.org/
NYPIRG
NYPIRG is New York State's largest research and advocacy non-profit organization primarily focused on environmental preservation, consumer protection, and good government.
http://www.nypirg.org/
Vote-NY
This website's goal is universal access to and full participation in the election process and that each voter should be treated equally and with respect.
http://www.vote-ny.com/
Public Opinion Polls
Marist College, Poughkeepsie
Begun in 1978, the Marist poll is unique in that undergraduate students are involved in each poll. It measures public opinion across the nation, in New York State, and New York City.
http://www.maristpoll.marist.edu/
Siena College, Albany
Started in 1980, the Siena Research Institute conducts the Siena New York Poll, a monthly snapshot poll of registered voters from throughout New York State on timely political topics, and the New York State Consumer Confidence Index, a monthly look at New Yorkers’ willingness to spend.
http://www.siena.edu/level2col.aspx?menu_id=562&id=19322
Zogby International, Utica
This company has offered a variety of polling, information services, and market research since 1984. Its website offers an informative FAQ section about how polls are conducted.
http://www.zogby.com/
Register To Vote
Brennan Center, NYU School of Law
A guide for college students explains basic residency, registration, identification, and absentee voting requirements for student voters in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
http://www.brennancenter.org/studentvoting
Federal Voting Assistance Program
This agency aids uniformed service members and US citizens living abroad to vote.
http://www.fvap.gov/
New York City Board of Elections
Voter registration forms can be obtained in English, Chinese, Spanish, or Korean. Apply at this site to be a poll worker.
http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/register.html
New York State Board of Elections
Learn how to register to vote. Find party enrollment statistics and descriptions of the new types of voting machines.
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/Voting.html
Project Vote Smart http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm is a good site for voters. It's nonpartisan, offers biographies, voting records, etc. for candidates.
United States Election Assistance Commission
This bi-partisan Commission certifies voting systems and the National Mail Voter Registration program.
http://www.eac.gov/index_html1
State and Local
Association of Towns of the State of New York
The Association offers training events and services for New York's 932 towns.
http://www.nytowns.org/
Local Government Websites
Includes links to the websites of NYS counties, cities, towns, and villages.
http://www.nysegov.com/citguide.cfm?context=citguide&content=munibyalpha
New York Association of Counties
This organization advocates for all 62 NYS counties and offers educational programs. See the "County Corner/Best Practices" link for best practices for elected and appointed county officials.
http://nysac.org
New York City Board of Elections
Review the official Election Calendar, obtain election results and statistics, or learn how to declare yourself a candidate.
http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/
New York State
The official website for NYS includes descriptions of the three branches of state government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) and links to their websites.
http://www.ny.gov/
New York State Assembly
Identify your State Assemblyperson, obtain information on the State Capitol, or follow the Assembly's activities regarding the World Trade Center disaster.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/
New York State Board of Elections
Look up your voter registration and find your polling place. Find out who is running in the November 4 general election, and, after the election, find election results.
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/
New York State Consolidated Laws
The New York State Consolidated Laws, which are arranged by subject, are searchable. The entire text of the New York State Election Law is available.
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menuf.cgi
New York State Senate
Identify your State Senator, obtain biographical information, read official reports, and watch Senate sessions live.
http://www.senate.state.ny.us/
NYS County Websites
Links to NYS Counties. Find notice of county government meetings, budgets, and real property auctions.
http://www.nysegov.com/citguide.cfm?context=citguide&content=munibycounty1
NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Apportionment
View election district maps from the NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Apportionment.
http://www.latfor.state.ny.us/maps/