California Recall Election Project: About the Collection

Summary

The primary focus of the collection is on sites and content specific to the California gubernatorial recall election, October 7, 2003. Information specific to the propositions on the October 7 ballot is included but not specifically targeted. Types of content that exist only on the web, and any other particularly ephemeral content, are key components. The geographical focus of the collection is California.

Approximate Size of the Collection

The collection contains 350 web sites.

Types of Web Sites Collected

• Candidate sites: Official web sites of the 135 candidates, and web sites of write-in and uncertified candidates, when possible.
• Interest groups: Web sites of special interest groups specific to the recall; portions of web sites of established interest groups that are specific to the recall.
• Political Parties: Major political parties at the state level.
• Government: County registrars of voters, California Secretary of State, 9th Circuit Court, Governor Gray Davis.
• Commentary and Humor: Web sites that exist to make fun of, satirize, or otherwise comment on the candidates and election.
• Institutions: Web guides, directories or other information related to the recall election from universities or other public institutions.
• Miscellaneous: Polls, blogs, non-partisan "watchdog" sites, any other sites that are specific to the recall and determined to be relevant.
• Media: Major California newspapers, web sites of selected TV stations in large California cities, major California spanish-language media, several national level media sites (very selective capture on election day and one day after).

Capture Period

Most sites were captured primarily between September 16 and October 10, 2003. Some sites are still being captured on a monthly basis.