We are less than 100 days away from the General Election on Nov. 5, 2024. Over the next few weeks, voters across the country will cast ballots, choose our next President, and make decisions on federal, state, and local leaders and issues. This is one of the most important parts of our Democracy, but we understand that it can be overwhelming.
We have assembled several resources to help you understand our country's election structure, how to register to vote, key deadlines, and more. We will continue to update this page as we lead up to the general election and beyond. So whether you are a seasoned voter or newly registered, you will find helpful information here.
What's Next for Urban America
In this Issues & Answers webcast, we speak with Professor Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh of Columbia University and Tracy Haden Loh of the Brookings Institution about the challenges facing urban communities, the changes cities are experiencing, and what experts think lies ahead.
There is little doubt that cities will continue to evaluate telework, empty office buildings, and how they can adapt. Watch or listen to this timely and thought-provoking conversation on your favorite platform today.
Join the Public Square
RSVP to participate in this live discussion!
Why Does It Exist? Should We Keep It?
Join individuals from across the U.S. as we discuss the Electoral College and what the future of our elections may look like. Register here for this virtual conversation with the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST.
You can check out resources and information on elections before the conversation.
Celebrating Athletes
As the world watches premier athletes from across the globe compete at the Olympics, we’d like to share a less-known story of Justice O’Connor. We have no doubt that she would be rooting for our nation's athletes in Paris as a committed believer in the power of exercise.
Justice O'Connor encouraged her clerks to join her three times a week for an aerobics class held on the Supreme Court's basketball court. She launched the class on her third day as a Supreme Court Justice and continued until her retirement. You can learn more about the life of Justice O’Connor and her body of work in the Online O'Connor Library.
Civics 101
So you think you know civics? The latest Constitution Day Survey reports that 10% of Americans can name two branches of government, and 17% cannot name any. While you may be able to name the three branches of government, we invite you to take 5-10 minutes to learn more about our system of checks and balances through Civics 101, our free, online micro-lessons.
Have you taken the latest micro-lesson of the month?
Click here: The Three Branches of Government.
Dinner with Oppenheimer & Truman
This year, the Institute will honor two individuals whose lives changed the course of history during World War II, Manhattan Project Director Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and President Harry S. Truman. The author of Pulitzer Prize–winning book AMERICAN PROMETHEUS, The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Kai Bird, upon which the Academy Award-winning film was based, is our distinguished speaker. Featured guest will be Dr. Kurt Graham, director of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.
Dinner guests will receive a complimentary copy of American Prometheus. Dinner Chairs are Ellen and Howard Katz and Margot and Dennis Knight. Honorary Chairs are Nita and Phil Francis and Lois and Steve Savage. History Dinner Evening Benefactors Christine and Daryl Burton and Sue and Bud Selig.
Incredibly, on July 16, 1945, Justice O'Connor and her father witnessed the "Trinity Test." This was the world's first nuclear explosion and was visible from the Lazy B Ranch, approximately 180 miles away from the blast sight.
"We were still in the kitchen at 5:30, rinsing off the breakfast dishes, said Sandra Day O'Connor. "The sink was below a kitchen window looking out to the northeast; there was a little light in the sky where the sun would soon rise in the east. (Father) DA and I were standing in front of the sink when we saw an enormous flash of intense light to the northeast. It looked like an enormous ball of fire in the distance. There was no sound. A dark cloud formed where the light had been, and then the cloud rose in the sky."
“What do you suppose that is?” said DA. “I don’t know, It looked like an explosion. How far away is it?” “Pretty far. I didn’t hear anything. It must have been a munitions dump or a big chemical explosion somewhere. Hard to tell.”
"It was several weeks later that we read in some of our weekly mail about the first atomic-bomb test at Alamogordo, New Mexico." The Day family at the Lazy B was astounded to learn they had witnessed that ominous and historic event some 180 miles distant. In the land of cactus and cattle, scientists had unleashed the most stupendous force in the universe. "The world we knew was changed forever.” - Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, as shared in Lazy B: Growing Up on A Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest.
The Electoral College
The Electoral College is not a physical place but a process created by the Founding Fathers and included in the Constitution. It became a compromise between electing the president by a vote in Congress and a popular vote by citizens. The Electoral College has 538 electors, and a candidate requires a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Each state's electors corresponds to its number of members of Congress, one for each representative and two senators.
We understand this is a topic of great interest and invite you to learn more about the Electoral College here.
Poll Worker Recruitment Day
August 1 is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day! We encourage you to learn more about how you can serve your community as a poll worker at HelpAmericaVote.org.
Are you looking for more information on voting and civic engagement? Check out our resources.
In The News
- Forbes: New Survey Reveals Low Level Of Civics Literacy Among College Students
- Stanford Law magazine: Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s Impact