How to Read a Congressional District Map
District maps look confusing until you know what to look for. Here is how to read boundaries, spot split counties, and tell a normal shape from an odd one.
Guides
These guides explain how U.S. congressional districts, the House and Senate, redistricting, and elections work, in plain language. Start here for the background behind the numbers on this site. To find your own district and representative, use the lookup on the home page.
What Is a Runoff Election and Which States Use Them
A runoff is a second round held when no candidate wins a majority. Nine states use them for congressional primaries and three can use them in general elections.
How U.S. Senators Are Appointed to Fill Vacancies
Most states let the governor appoint a senator when a seat opens mid-term. Here is where that power comes from, how long appointees serve, and the limits.
How Special Elections to Congress Work
Special elections fill congressional seats that open up mid-term. Here is who calls them, how the timing works, and why the rules differ by state.
What Happens When a Congressional Seat Becomes Vacant
A seat in Congress can open up mid-term through death, resignation, or expulsion. What happens next depends on whether it is a House or Senate seat.
How to Check Your Voter Registration and State Deadlines
Voter registration and deadlines are set by each state, not the federal government. This guide explains how to check your status and find your state’s rules. Check your registration Your state or local election office keeps the official voter roll. Look up your status on your state election office website. The nonpartisan site vote.gov links … Read more
How to Contact Your Member of Congress
You can reach your U.S. House member and your two U.S. Senators by phone, through their website, or by mail. Here are the options and what works best. Find who represents you first Use the home page lookup for your House representative, and the U.S. Senators by state page for your two senators. Phone Every … Read more
Who Is My Representative and How Do I Find Them?
You have one member of the U.S. House of Representatives, decided by where you live. This guide shows how to find that person in a few seconds and what to do with the result. Find your representative in one step Enter your ZIP code or full street address in the lookup on the home page. … Read more
How to Register to Vote
How to register to vote and check your registration: the general steps, that deadlines and rules vary by state, and where to confirm your state’s process.
What Is a Non-Voting Delegate?
What a non-voting delegate is: who represents D.C. and the territories in the House, what they can and cannot do, and how they differ from voting members.