Skip to Main Content

U.S. Elections

This guide offers starting points for U.S. elections and topics in U.S. elections research.

On this page

  • About Ballot Initiatives, Direct Democracy, and Election Statistics
  • California Elections and Resources
  • California's Election Districts
  • Books

About Ballot Initiatives, Direct Democracy, and Election Statistics

Ballot Initiatives

The ballot initiative process gives California citizens a way to propose laws and constitutional amendments without the support of the Governor or the Legislature.

Direct Democracy 

On this site, there are ballot measures across the country that refer to Direct Democracy. Such measures may include questions about the initiative and referendum process, petition circulation requirements and signature filing amendments.

Election Statistics

Election Statistics from the Elections Division of California Secretary of State, oversees all federal and state elections within California.

California Elections and Resources

California Voter Foundation

The California Voter Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working through research, oversight, outreach and demonstration projects to improve the election process so that it better serves the needs and interest of voters. 

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank. Our mission is to inform and improve public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research.

Power Search

In partnership with the California Secretary of State, Power Search is a privately developed open source search engine which accesses raw data of state-level campaign contributions ranging from 2001 to the present as reported to the Secretary of State’s CAL-ACCESS campaign finance filing and disclosure system. Power Search can be used to quickly search for contributions to candidates and ballot measures and contributions from individuals, businesses and other campaign committees. It can also be used to search for independent expenditures made to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures.

Registrar of Voters (ROV) San Diego 

The ROV is entrusted with providing the forum for all eligible citizens of San Diego County to exercise their right to actively participate in the democratic process. Election and voting information including registration and status, polling place locator, line-count and final results, and reports are found here. 

California's Election Districts

US Congressional Districts

State and federal legislative district service areas approved by the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The legislative districts contain the geographically defined territories used for representation in the California State Assembly, California State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives from California.  These three boundary layers were approved by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2021 following the completion of the 2020 United States Census.

California Map Series

The California Voter Foundation California Map Series contains California In-Person Voting Options by County, Political Districts, and Political Maps adopted by the Citizens Redistricting Commission. 

California Redistricting Page

The Secretary of State's California Redistricting information page.

California Election Districts Look Up

California election districts have changed for 2022 and beyond. Type in your address and find out your new legislative and congressional districts.

Books