Civic & Voting

The Fairfax Community Library encourages everyone
to build their civic literacy and to exercise their civil rights
and fulfill their civil responsibilities.

Libraries are one way people, as individuals and within their towns, schools, states, and beyond, do both!

Civic Literacy

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy

“Launched in 1984, CCTV Center for Media & Democracy advances free speech, promotes local democracy, facilitates participation in political decision making, and builds unity and empathy in the community by convening, recording, airing, sharing, and archiving community voices.

“CCTV’s advocacy and innovative project development secures media channels, tools, and training that allow community involvement in the exchange of ideas and decision making.

“CCTV preserves archival video assets that document the exchange of diverse ideas, local community history, and the processes of community democracy.”

iCivics

“Founded in 2009 by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing civic learning by providing educators and students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to embrace and engage in our civic life together. We empower educators and lead the movement to make civic education a nationwide priority so all young people have the confidence to shape the world around them and believe in our country’s future.”

Voting

Ballotpedia

“Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics, and the nation’s premier resource for unbiased information on elections, politics, and policy.

“We provide our readers curated content on all levels of U.S. politics that is relevant, reliable, and available for all. In addition, Ballotpedia’s policy content and assets are a gateway to learning about public policy and an unparalleled resource for clear, comprehensive, and factual information on key policy areas. We are firmly committed to neutrality in all our content.

“As a nonprofit [not affiliated with any campaigns or candidates for office], our mission is to educate. We’re here for you when: You need the latest political news and analysis from a reliable, nonpartisan source. | You’re making decisions about how you’ll vote in an election. | You want to access all opinions—fairly, clearly, and completely presented—surrounding a policy area.

​”Our professional staff of researchers and writers produce all of our content. Although we have an office in Wisconsin, the majority of our staff work from home offices across the United States.”

Elections Division of the Vermont Secretary of State

​Voter resources include registration; early and absentee voting; accessible voting; and the Vermont Voter Portal.

Fairfax Voter Project

“The Fairfax Voter Project is a non-partisan resource focused on increasing awareness and access to information about upcoming elections in Fairfax, Vermont.”

Vermont Chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV)

“The League is a political grassroots network and membership organization that believes the freedom to vote is a nonpartisan issue. For more than a century, we’ve worked to empower voters and defend democracy. As a women-led organization, we encourage everyone to take part in our democracy.”

VOTE411, with information specific to Vermont

“Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) in October of 2006, VOTE411.org is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the following aspects of the election process: Absentee ballot information | ballot measure information (where applicable) | early voting options (where applicable) | election dates | factual data on candidates in various federal, state, and local races | general information on such topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye | ID requirements | polling place locations | registration deadlines | voter qualifications | voter registration forms | voting machines.

“An important component of VOTE411.org is the polling place locator, which enables users to type in their address and retrieve the poll location for the voting precinct in which that address is located. The League has found that this is among the most sought after information in the immediate days leading up to, and on, Election Day.”

Voting information by the Legal Defense Fund (LDF)

“Using the power of law, narrative, research, and people, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) defends the humanity and advance the rights of Black people in America.

“LDF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.”

The Voting Rights Alliance

“The Voting Rights Alliance is a growing non-partisan network of organizations, activists, and legislators working to restore and protect voting rights from concerted attacks that undermine our access to the polls, and to have our votes fairly counted.”