Editor's note: This article was written by Tom Nussbaum and Chris Micheli.

Just over a century ago in California, the initiative process was proposed by Progressives, the labor movement, and others as a means of addressing a Legislature which was perceived to be under the control of the Southern Pacific railroad and other special interests. In 1911, the California voters followed the recommendation of Progressive Governor Hiram Johnson and California became the tenth state to enact the initiative, referendum, and recall.

There’s just one week left until Election Day and with all the acrimony in the presidential race, we’ve heard from a lot of Countable users who are wondering about voting third party or not voting at all. Will voting third party or skipping it altogether hand the race to a major-party candidate you disagree with? Is a third party vote a wasted vote? Let’s break it down.

First, it really depends on how you think of your vote: Do you view it as solely a personal expression and action or is it more about results?

Obamacare has been a major part of the 2016 election, and will continue to act as a wedge between the parties long after we have a new commander-in-chief. Nevertheless, it feels like both major presidential candidates have failed spectacularly when it comes to discussing medicine in this country. Here’s a look at what they’ve been saying — and what it might mean for the future.

San Diego, CALIF. - To be blunt, things are looking pretty good for California’s Prop 64.

Alaskan independent candidate Margaret Stock is one of 5 candidates running to unseat Alaska U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R). Recognizing the challenges of running against an incumbent, Stock still believes that she can win the race if she can build strong enough name recognition before November 8.

Stock's resume boasts work at the Pentagon, service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Military Police, U.S. Army Reserve, and teaching at both the United States Military Academy at West Point and the University of Alaska.

Looking at Google Ngram, the term 'manufactured outrage' is one that has evolved with the internet -- as internet usage has become more common, the concept has reached new heights of usage.

And in reality, this is part of what we have to accept with a 'free internet,' where information that fits our existing biases, appalls our sensibilities or morals, or fills our gaps of knowledge or awareness abounds instantaneously accessed through even our smallest of technological devices at a moment's notice.

Estamos a menos de una semana del Día de las Elecciones, dando cierre a una contienda presidencial que ha dado a los votantes dos de los candidatos más rechazados y desconfiados en la historia moderna de los Estados Unidos. Es un ciclo electoral que ha revelado que tan roto se encuentra el sistema electoral en el país.

Sin duda alguna, los votantes están cansados del status quo.

In October, the majority staff of the House Homeland Security Committee published a comprehensive report regarding the international state of terrorism called the “Terror Threat Snapshot.” This report contains a section on Iran, and has revealed the increasing global terror threat of the Iranian regime.

Amendment V is modeled on the Nebraska system, that is among the most competitive in U.S.

Most voters would like to believe that their votes on Tuesday will decide the outcome of state legislative races. Unfortunately, they’re wrong. According to a recent study, 92% of state legislative elections were actually decided in the June 7 primary, with only 8% to be decided in the general election.

San Diego, CALIF. - You’ve done your homework. You registered to vote, decided whom you’re voting for, which measures to support, and which to oppose. You even found the best possible route to avoid Tuesday afternoon traffic. And now comes the real hard-hitting question… “can I take a selfie with my ballot?”