The CCN Democracy, Governance and Elections Reporting Initiative helps faculty at U.S. colleges and universities who are running student reporting programs and want to cover statehouse activity, policy, issues and candidates at every level of local and state politics. We connect program leaders to a community of peers, provide free teaching resources, facilitate collaborative reporting projects, and promote the exceptional work of your students.

Elections-Specific Tools

CCN Guide on Student-Led Political Reporting (doc)

Assignment 1: Profiling first-time and/or young voter attitudes on campus (doc)

Assignment 2: Profiling voter attitudes in underserved  communities off-campus (doc)

Assignment 3: How do I cast my vote? A how-to guide for first-time voters in the 2024 election (doc)

Assignment 4: Student-made voter guide project (doc)

Assignment 5: Pitch a feature story on the 2024 election to your “editor” (doc)

Assignment 6: Electoral College Project (doc)

Assignment 7: Profiling Election Challenges Post-Election Day (doc)

Elections & Democracy Program: All Assignment Templates & Handouts (doc)

Template for Voter Guide Candidate Questionnaire - Use for Any Races (Google Form)

Special Assignment: Check Out This CCN Guide to Visual Journalism from Award-Winning Visual Editor Deb Pastner (doc)

Collaborative Project: Cross-State Live Blogging on Election Day (PDF)

Visual Journalism Best Practices (doc)