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Finding Information on the 2024 General Election and Candidates

Learn how to register to vote, how to vote, and find credible info on candidates.

What's Important to You?

It's easy to get sidetracked by political ads, scandals, news stories, etc.

Take a few minutes to focus on the big picture.

Here are some topics that are often the concern of state or national governments. Which matter most to you? 

  • Agriculture/Food
  • Children/Families
  • Civil Rights/LGBT/Women's Rights
  • Crime/Justice/Public Safety
  • Defense/Military/National Security
  • Drugs/Alcohol
  • Economy/Employment
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Health 
  • International Relations
  • Recreation/Tourism
  • Social Services
  • Transportation

Are there any other topics that matter to you? 

When looking at party platforms and candidate information, try to keep the "big picture" in mind.

Learning More about the Issues

Penn State offers several databases that provide multifaceted perspectives on political and social topics:

Penn State University Libraries offers two news databases which cover current news in Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S.:​

Note: These databases contain millions of articles. Consider limiting your results to a specific state and date, or include additional keywords in your search. 

Also note: In addition to factual news, these databases contain "editorials," which are opinions written by news reporters or the general public. Editorials can be very biased.

Newspaper Election Guides

Some newspapers and television stations offer "election guides" which publish interviews or other information about candidates. Other newspapers gather political stories on a single site so that they are easier to find.

Here are some for Central Pennsylvania:

Here are some for major cities in Pennsylvania:

To find election guides for other areas, Google the place, "newspaper," and "election." 

Avoiding Misinformation

There is an abundance of misinformation, fake news, overtly biased, and other informational sources of questionable quality and credibility. Use the resources below to learn some strategies for avoiding falling for misinformation.

Understanding how filter bubbles and echo chambers contribute to confirmation bias can also help you understand why you feel like everyone around you agrees with you. It's important to realize that even though you feel that you're surrounded by people with similar opinions, beliefs, and values, there is a wide range of perspectives, ideologies, and political leanings in your immediate community.