Election Resources

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Note: Off-campus access to some online sources is restricted to current UCF students, faculty, and staff via Pegasus or Proxy servers.

Related Research Guides

Other guides which may be useful for research include:

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Campaign Finances - Key Resources

See also County Supervisor of Elections for information regarding local candidates, and Campaign Finances - Other Resources

Florida Campaign Finances

Florida Campaign Finance Database (Division of Elections)

What does the Database Contain?

• "By law candidates and committees are required to disclose detailed financial records of contributions received and expenditures made.
• For committees, the campaign finance database contains all contributions and expenditures reported to the Florida Division of Elections since January 1, 1996.
• For candidates, the campaign finance database contains all contributions and expenditures reported to the Division since the candidacy was announced, beginning with the 1996 election."

Whose Records are Included?
"Included are campaign finance reports which have been filed

• by candidates for any multi-county office, with the exception of U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative, and
• by organizations which receive contributions or make expenditures of more than $500 in a calendar year to support or oppose any multi-county candidate, issue, or party.
• Reports from local county or municipal candidates and committees are not included." See Local Elections

Follow the Money

Follow the Money (National Institute on Money in State Politics)

Florida (1998+)
Other States (earliest data varies, 1990-1998+)

"View political giving at a glance by choosing a state and election year. Want more detail? Add a candidate, contributor or industry.... The Institute collects the information for all state-level candidates in the primary and general elections and then puts it into a database.... assign political donors an economic interest code.... The following table provides a breakdown of the numerous Industry and Business classifications within 19 general economic sectors."

Agriculture Candidate Contributions Communications & Electronics Construction Defense Energy & Natural Resources Finance, Insurance & Real Estate General Business Health

Ideology/Single Issue Labor Lawyers & Lobbyists Non-Contributions Other/Retiree/Civil Servants Party Public Subsidy Small Contributions Transportation Unknown

• State at a Glance
  provides details about campaign contributions by state and election year, including:
  

  Current Election Totals Election Summary Top Industries Top 20 Contributors to Candidates Average Dollars per Voter Average Dollars Raised Breakdown by Party Top 20 Contributors Overall Contribution Distributions Economic Sector Breakdown

  Labor, Business & Party Comparison Individual vs. Institutional Comparison Data for Individual Candidates Contribution Totals by Economic Interest Judicial Elections Ballot Measures Contributions to Party Committees Committee Contributions by Economic Sector Top Contributors by Party Top Industries by Party

• Ballot Measures by Subject
  identifies ballot measures in each state, whether the measure passed or failed, ballot measure committees, and all contributions (by contributor and amount). Subjects include:
  

  abortion affirmative action agriculture business regulation campaign finance courts economic development education elections energy environment

  gambling general taxation government health care housing human services hunting immigration judicial legislature marijuana marriage

  military minimum wage natural resources property rights property taxes sales tax state budget stem cell research tabor tobacco tort laws transportation

• Monetary Competitiveness - (m)c50
  "reveals the level of monetary competitiveness in state legislative elections by generating a color-coded map."
• State PULSE
  Political contribUtion Logarithmic Scatterplot profilE
  

  • "The PULSE tools use medians to compare candidate fund-raising totals. A median figure describes the midpoint of fund-raising totals, with an equal number of candidates raising more and less than that amount. The closer winning and losing candidates' medians are to the overall median, the more balanced the funds raised during the election cycle."
  • "PULSE pages are available for all 50 states and for at least four election cycles. It allows you to view data for all state candidates or to limit your search to only the specific office candidates you want to see. You can also select a specific economic sector to see only the money given by those particular contributors."
  • "On the state PULSE pages, each candidate is represented by a circle. As you move your mouse over each circle, the candidate's name and contribution data will appear in the screen. You can click on each dot to be taken to a specific page that provides breakdowns of the candidate's campaign kitty. Each dot is placed on the chart in accordance with the amount of money he or she raised. In the PULSE, winners are displayed on the top of the chart, with losing candidates at the bottom."
  • "The color of the dot represents the party of the candidate; Blue for Democratic candidates, red for Republican, green for Third-party and grey for non-partisan. Additionally, Incumbents are indicated with a small yellow dot, which may appear as an open circle on many monitors."
  • "If you need to find a particular candidate's circle on the PULSE, move your mouse to the "Find a Candidate" text in the chart's lower left side."
• Research & Reports
  "The Institute uses its multistate, multiyear databases to research trends in political giving, examine how contributions drive public policy debates in the states and the nation, and see how special interests give across state lines."

Open Secrets

Open Secrets (Center for Responsive Politics)

"The Center for Responsive Politics is a non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy. The Center conducts computer-based research on campaign finance issues for the news media, academics, activists, and the public at large. The Center’s work is aimed at creating a more educated voter, an involved citizenry, and a more responsive government."

2008 Election Overview Incumbent Advantage Donors Donor Demographics Top Overall Donors Top Individual Contributors to 527 Committees Top Individual Contributors Top Industries Totals by Sector Most Expensive Races Candidates Who's Raised the Most Who's Raised the Least Who's Spent the Most Top PAC Recipients Top Cash on Hand Least Cash on Hand Top Self Funders Top In-State vs. Out-of-State Candidate to Candidate Giving Party to Candidate Giving Quality of Disclosure Sources of Funds Business-Labor-Ideology Split Top Metro Areas Top ZIP Codes Contributions by State Top 527 Committees 2008 Presidential Election Donor Lookup Money Web Contributions from Selected Industries State/Metro Fundraising Donor Demographics Gender Expenditures Fundraising Over Time Fundraising by Party The Money Primary News & Analysis	Big Picture: Historic Data (1990-2006) Election Stats Donor Demographics Top ZIP Codes Top Metro Areas Totals by State Congress Spreading the Wealth Candidate to Candidate Giving Party to Candidate Giving Reelection Rates 108th Congress Casualty List Dollars & Cents of Incumbency The Price of Admission Different Races, Different Costs Millionaire Candidates Where the Money Came From Bundles of Money Parties Fundraising Totals by Cycle Congressional Soft Money Serious Money Top Overall Donors Top PACs PACs Stick with Incumbents Top Soft Money Donors Top Individual Donors Special Interests Business-Labor-Ideology Split Totals by Sector Top Industries Most Partisan Industries Others Hot Races Most Expensive Races Winning vs. Spending New Districts Senate Races Top In-State vs. Out-of-State Soft Money Transfers to States
Donor Lookup (1990+) Find individual & soft money contributors Search by Last Name, State, ZIP, Occupation/Employer, Recipient Order the results by Name of donor, Amount donated, or Date of donation Political Action Committees (1990+) Industry Breakdown Top PACs Foreign-connected PACs Industry Profiles (1990+) Totals Top contributors Top recipients 13 Sectors & 122 Industries: Agribusiness Communications/Electronics Construction Defense Energy/Natural Resources Finance/Insurance/Real Estate Health Lawyers & Lobbyists Transportation Miscellaneous Business Labor Ideology/Single-Issue Other Privately Funded Congressional Travel Top Congressional & Staff Travelers Top Sponsors Top Industries & Interest Groups Most Popular Destinations - Cities & Countries Most Delinquent Filers Search by Member or Traveler Search by Sponsor Search by Destination Search by State Search by Date Search by Purpose	Soft Money Donor Search (1990+) Search by donating organization, by individual donor, or by Sector Top Soft Money Donors Soft Money to State Parties Top Donors by State Money Transferred from National Parties to States Top All-Time Donors Total contributions for the 100 biggest givers in American politics since 1989 Top organizational givers by rank Top organizational givers by alphabetical order Top individual contributors from these organizations 527s: Advocacy Group Spending (2004 & 2006) Top 50 Committees By Industry By Sector Expenditures Top 20 Contributors Top Individual Donors Personal Financial Disclosure Reports (2005) Top Net Worth Top Assets Top Liabilities Top Outside Income Most Popular Investments Sector Totals Top Industries Lobbying Database (1998+) Search by name for a company, lobbying firm or individual lobbyist Search for the total spending by a particular industry Search for the total spending by lobbyists on a specific issue View the amount spent to lobby a particular government agency Top Spenders Top Lobbying Firms Ranked Sectors Top Industries Top Contracts Top Issues
Revolving Door a directory of people passing between government & the private sector Top Members Top Agencies Top Congressional Committees Top Lobbying Firms Top Organizations Search by Person or Employment

Open Secrets: The Encyclopedia of Congressional Money & Politics
Ref JK 1991 .M26 1994 (1992 elections)
General Collection JK 1991 .M26 1992 (1990 elections)
• "The primary focus of this book is on the 535 members of the U.S. Congress. Each member has a two-page contribution profile that details the industries and individual companies, labor unions and other organizations that contributed to his or her campaign."
• "Profiles of each of the 37 standing committees of the House and Senate are also presented, showing which industries and interest groups contributed most heavily to members of that committee."
• "An industry-by-industry breakdown of contributor groups examines in detail which segments of the business, labor and ideological communities give the biggest share of dollars to members of Congress."

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Campaign Finances - Other Resources

See also Campaign Finances - Key Resources and Data Sets.

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Data Sets

See also Campaign Finances and ICPSR & other sources for data sets.
NOTE: Most sections of this page include resources for statistical data.

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Local Elections

See also Local Government Information & Related Resources and Florida Elections.

County Supervisor of Elections

County	Election Results	Registration Statistics	Campaign Finances
Brevard	1980+	1980+
Citrus	1992+	2002+	2004+
Flagler	1996+	2003+	2002+
Indian River	2004+	current	2004+
Lake	2002+
Levy	1996+
Marion	2006+	current	2003+
Orange	1992+	1997+	2001+
Osceola	2000+	current
Polk	1988+	2002+	1998+
Seminole	2000+
Sumter	2000+	2007+	2006+
Volusia	1998+	1998+

Supervisor of Elections in Other Florida Counties

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Florida Elections

See also Florida Government Information & Related Resources and Local Elections.

Division of Elections (Dept of State)

Register to Vote application form how to vote absentee registration book closing dates Election Dates upcoming election dates qualifying dates registration book closing dates scheduled county & municipal elections (1997+) Candidate Tracking System (1996+) "tracks candidates throughout the elections process presenting candidate status, campaign finance activity, personal photos and contact information." Committees (1978+) "maintains records on hundreds of committees. Information available for each committee includes committee address, chairman, treasurer, deputy treasurer, registered agent and campaign finance activity. Committees are classified as: Political Committee (PAC) Committee of Continuous Existence (CCE) Party Executive Committee (PTY) Electioneering Communication Organizations (ECO) Electioneering Communication Individual (ECI) Independent Expenditure Organization (IXO)" Election Results (1978+) general, primary, presidential preference, runoffs display results by county display results by office: U.S. President U.S. Senator or Representative Governor & Cabinet State Senator or Representative State Courts - Supreme Court, District Court of Appeals, Circuit Judge State Attorney Public Defender Special Districts Constitutional Amendments Tabulation of Official Vote Florida Documents SS .C7: T12/ beginning with the primary elections of June 1932. See also: Florida Votes, 1920-1970 by Annie Mary Hartsfield & Elston E. Roady Ref JK 4493 .1972 .H37 provides a compilation and analysis of some Florida election statistics.

Campaign Financing See description of database above Formal Opinions of the Division of Elections (1976+) "The Division of Elections provides advisory opinions to supervisors of elections, candidates, local officers having election related duties, political parties, political committees, committees of continuous existence or other persons or organizations engaged in political activity, relating to any provisions or possible violations of Florida election laws." Laws & Procedures Election Laws Handbooks Rules Forms Reports by the Division of Elections Annual Reports (1996+) Analysis & Report of Overvotes & Undervotes for the General Election (2002, 2004, 2006) Polling Place Accessibility (2003) Uniform Poll Times Voter Education Programs During the Election Cycle (2004, 2006) Voter Registration Statistics (1972+) County Voter Registration Totals (1994+) by Party by Race by Party & Race by Congressional District by Senate District by House District by Judicial Circuit Voter Registration since 1972 - Statewide by Party Voter Registration Report Archives (1995+) Monthly Report Net Activity by Party Affiliation Report Year to Date Affiliation Report Year to Date Voter Registration Totals Report Voting Systems About Voting Systems Certified Voting Systems Certified Voting System Vendors County Voting System Lookup Certification Status & Test Schedule Technical Advisory & Letters Florida Voting Systems Standards

Politics1.com - Florida

"Your complete directory of Florida candidates for Governor, United State Senator and Congress in the current election cycle ... state political parties ... the official state election office ... and state news sources." Includes links to campaign websites.

Project Vote Smart

Biographical Information Current Officials Current Candidates Issue & Interest Group Ratings Abortion Issues Business & Consumers Conservative Environmental Issues Gun Issues Labor Transportation Issues Issue Positions - Political Courage Test Speeches & Public Statements Voting Records Ballot Measures

State Key Votes All Bills Abortion Issues Appropriations Arts & Humanities Budget, Spending & Taxes Business & Consumers Campaign Finance & Election Issues Crime Issues Education Employment & Affirmative Action Family & Children Issues Health Issues Housing & Property Issues Immigration Legal Issues Science & Medical Research Transportation Issues

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Federal Elections - Key Resources

See also Federal Elections - Other Resources.

Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections (1789+)

provides maps of election results for president, governors, and senators.

Election Statistics (1920+)

"Since 1920, the Clerk of the House has collected and published the official vote counts for federal elections from the official sources among the various states and territories." Provided as pdf files, the title varies:
Statistics of the presidential and congressional election of ... : showing the highest vote for presidential electors, and the vote cast for each nominee for United States senator, representative, resident commissioner, and delegate to the ... Congress, together with a recapitulation thereof, including the electoral vote

Guide to U.S. Elections

Ref JK 1967 .C662 2005

31 chapters in two volumes, covering:

• Elections in America
• Political Parties (Campaign Finance, Politics & Issues, Political Party Development, Historical Profiles of American Political Parties, Historical Significance of Southern Primaries)
• Presidential Elections (Presidential Elections & Primaries, Nominating Conventions, Key Convention Ballots, Electoral College)
• Congressional Elections (House & Senate Returns, Reapportionment & Redistricting)
• Gubernatorial Elections

Politics1.com

a non-partisan site providing links for the federal & state candidates, political parties, political news, and campaign issues.

Project Vote Smart

Biographical Information Current Officials Current Candidates Congressional Key Votes All Bills Appropriations See also: Issues Issue & Interest Group Ratings Conservative Liberal See also: Issues Issue Positions - Political Courage Test Speeches & Public Statements Voting Records Issues (Congressional Key Votes & Issue & Interest Group Ratings) Abortion Issues Agriculture Issues Animal Rights & Wildlife Issues Arts & Humanities Budget, Spending & Taxes Business & Consumers Campaign Finance & Election Issues Civil Liberties & Civil Rights Congressional Affairs Crime Issues Death Penalty Defense Drug Issues Education Employment & Affirmative Action

Issues (continued) Energy Issues Environmental Issues Executive Branch Family & Children Issues Federal, State, & Local Relations Foreign Aid & Policy Issues Gambling & Gaming Government Reform Gun Issues Health Issues Housing & Property Issues Immigration Indigenous Peoples Labor Legal Issues Military Issues National Security Issues Reproductive Issues Science & Medical Research Senior & Social Security Issues Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Social Issues Stem Cell Research Technology & Communication Trade Issues Transportation issues Veterans Issues Welfare & Poverty Women's Issues

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Federal Elections - Other Resources

See also Federal Elections - Key Resources and Federal Government Information & Related Resources.

America at the Polls, 1920-1992: A Handbook of American Presidential Election Statistics

Ref JK 524 .A73 1994

provides state-by-state, county-by-county details of each presidential contest.

America Votes

Ref JK 1967 .A8 (v.2,4-5,8-26; 1956/57, 1960-62, 1968-2003/04)

provides county-level election returns by state for President, Congress, and Governor. Includes Congressional district maps.

Presidential Ballots, 1836-1892

Ref JK 524 .B8 1976

• Distribution of Party Control, by Counties, 1836-1892
• Distribution of Counties Held by Each Party: Sections, 1836-1892
• Distribution of Counties Held by Each Party: States, 1836-1892
• Distribution of the Vote by Section and State, 1836-1892
• Distribution of the Vote by Counties, 1836-1892
• The Electoral Vote, 1836-1892

Presidential Vote, 1896-1932

Ref JK 524 .R6 1970

• Distribution of the Presidential Vote, 1896-1932
• Distribution of the Vote by Sections and by States
• Distribution of Party Control: Democratic & Republican Counties
• Party Vote for Electors by State and by County

Source Book of American Presidential Campaign & Election Statistics, 1948-1968

Ref JK 524 .R83

Presidential Preference Primaries National Party Conventions Presidential Campaign Staff Campaign Itineraries The Cost of Presidential Campaigns

Presidential Campaign Media Exposure Public Opinion Polls Voting Participation in Presidential Elections Presidential Election Results Minor Party Voting

Statistical History of the American Electorate

Ref JK 1967 .R87 2001

"This volume has three purposes: to achieve accuracy, comprehensiveness, and analytical insight into the behavior of the American electorate from 1788 to 1999." The Accuracy & Inaccuracy of Election Data Who Is Allowed to Vote: Suffrage & Election Laws

Who Goes to the Polls The Familiarity of Presidential Elections The Obscurity of House Elections The Notoriety of Senate Elections The Isolation of Gubernatorial Elections? Party Winners & Losers Across Multiple Elections

United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997, The Official Results

Ref JK 1967 .D77 1998

U.S. Presidential Candidates and the Elections: A Biographical & Historical Guide

Ref JK 528 .H38 1996

• Vol. 1 - The Candidates: birth, death, parents, spouse(s), children, education, political & government service & activities, business & professional activities, military service & awards, memberships in organizations, nonmilitary awards, honorary degrees, writings, religion, miscellaneous
• Vol. 2 - The Elections, 1789-1992

United States Presidential Elections, 1788-1860, The Official Results by County & State

Ref JK 524 .D778 2002

United States Presidential Primary Elections, 1968-1996: A Handbook of Election Statistics

Ref JK 522 .C66 2000

"provides the official, county-by-county results for all contested Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections from 1968 through 1996."

• Growth of Presidential Primaries...More & More, Earlier & Earlier
• Presidential Primary Winners by State
• Presidential Primary Winners by Key Counties & Cities
• National Primary Maps & Vote Summaries

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Foreign Elections

See also Foreign & International Government Information & Related Resources.

Key Foreign Resources

Elections Around the World

Wilfried Derksen's database on elections, parties and parliaments, including results of recent elections worldwide

Elections & Electoral Systems Around the World

provides links arranged by country.

British Resources

Other Foreign Resources

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Other Resources

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Looking for something else? Ask for assistance at the UCF Libraries' Reference Desk.

Prepared by: Rich Gause, Government Documents Librarian
URL of this page: http://library.ucf.edu/govdocs/elections.asp

Last update:04/18/08 04:21:43 PM

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