Guides, explainers, and analysis about how U.S. government works — and how to make yours work for you.
9 articles in "Elections" · Page 1 of 2
Democrats won both chambers of Congress and flipped governorships in Texas, Ohio and Iowa, taking seats in places that hadn’t elected them in decades. Here’s what drove the upsets and what they mean for the next two years and 2028.
On November 3, voters will decide who controls Congress for the next two years. With razor-thin margins, redrawn maps, record spending, and a president's party facing historical headwinds, the 2026 midterms could shape the final stretch of this presidential term
Some states let you register the same day you vote. Others cut you off a full month before Election Day. There's no single national deadline — here's why they differ, and how to find the exact date for where you live.
From primaries to the Electoral College, federal elections in the U.S. follow a specific, often confusing sequence. Here's how House, Senate, and presidential races actually work — and why your vote counts differently depending on the race.
Primaries and caucuses both decide who ends up on your ballot, but they work nothing alike — one's a quiet trip to the polls, the other's a public meeting with your neighbors. Here's how each one actually works.