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Voting in a presidential election? Maybe it's a national election but not a presidential election. How about a local election? Whatever kind of decision we're called upon to make it can be tough to make a well-informed one. Enter the 'Net: a great place to start for information about candidates and key issues.

The League of Women Voters of the United States' first mission is to encourage the informed and active participation of citizens in government. Here you can register to vote online as well as find election dates. You can read about candidates

during election times and order many publications about key issues. The League also publishes reports about the woman voter. If you want to get involved on a volunteer level there's a step-by-step on how to "Get Out The Vote" by organizing a voter drive. The organization has many state branches and many of those branches have websites that can inform on the local level.

Rock The Vote is dedicated to protecting freedom of speech, educating young people about issues and motivating young people to participate by registering, voting and speaking out. The site contains information about where to register as well as a jazzy section called Artist Spotlight, which features role models from the music industry on why they feel it's important to vote.

As required by the New York City Charter, the Campaign Finance Board publishes Voter Guides before the primary and general elections, which include information about candidates. The Voter Guide provides equal space to all candidates free of charge and is both useful and democratic. Though relevant mostly to locals, the New York Campaign Finance Board site is an excellent example of how the 'Net can provide a more truly democratic view of all candidates that television never has. Even if you don't live in New York you can probably locate an organization accomplishing the same thing for your area now or soon.

For information about women in every aspect of politics check out Women In Politics created by The College of Library and Information Services at the University of Maryland, College Park. This site contains information about women involved in every aspect of politics in the United States past and present, elected and appointed, and more. For the history buff, here are intriguing photos and bios of all the women who have ever served in Congress and a timeline of important events in women's political history.

Beyond elections: If you're interested in other political issues affecting specifically women, from a local level to a global level, try the Femina Search Engine, Society and Culture: Politics. Here you'll find links for organizations such as Amnesty International, the National Organization of Women and the United Nations Development Fund For Women as well as links on such issues as domestic violence or animal rights.

The 'Net is changing the face of American Politics through the dissemination of information in a much more democratic way than was ever possible before. In the 20th Century the American woman has gained the right to vote and the means to use the Internet as a tool for doing so. With the 21st she can be proud of our progress and look forward to much more, possibly even actually casting votes on the Internet.