Election season can be overwhelming, whether you’re a seasoned voter or a first-timer. The frequent commercials, stacks of mailers, televised debates and sample ballots might feel like information overload — but don’t let that deter you! The Burlington County Library System has plenty of resources that can help you step into the booth with confidence.
First, check out our Voter Essentials page for comprehensive, Burlington County-specific information on registration, polling locations, voting by mail, early voting and more. This is especially helpful for those who have never voted before, like teens and young adults who are curious about the process! You’ll also find a list of important dates, updated annually. Some dates to consider for this year:
Early Voting: Oct. 24-Nov. 1
Vote-by-Mail application deadlines: Oct. 27 (by mail or online) and Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. (in-person at the County Clerk’s office)
General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 3
Once you have the basics down, why not learn a little bit about the candidates? Local newspapers often run profiles and interviews on candidates for municipal, county and state offices, like township council, city committee or school board, so check print publications or their websites as election day approaches — you can access the Burlington County Times and Newsbank through BCLS. If there are any special questions or other issues on your ballot, your local paper will likely cover those, too. You can also learn more by checking official candidate pages on social media or attending community meetings or events!
For national elections, larger newspapers and magazines can help you get a handle on current events, policy issues and candidates for federal office. BCLS provides access to the New York Times, as well as databases like Newspaper Source Plus, a collection of millions of articles from newspapers, newswires and magazines all over the world, plus transcripts and updates from radio and television news programs. Don’t be afraid to fact check your sources, too! BCLS has a handy guide for evaluating information that you can turn to if you’re unsure about the validity of a story or article.
You can also browse our online catalogue (or view our collections in-person at your nearest location) for new nonfiction books and digital magazines, if you’re interested in longform works on current events. There are also several books in the collection geared towards new voters, like Jeff Fleischer’s Votes of Confidence: A Young Person’s Guide to American Elections and the young adult adaptation of One Person, No Vote: How Not All Voters Are Treated Equally by Carol Anderson.
Whether you’re completely new to voting or just looking for trustworthy sources of news and information, your library offers everything you need to help you become a more informed voter.
