Learn / Reading Your Ballot
Reading Your Ballot
A visual walkthrough of what you'll see when you vote—section by section, top to bottom.
If you've never voted before—or if it's been a while—a ballot can look a little overwhelming. It's a wall of names, offices, and questions. But it follows a predictable structure, and once you know what you're looking at, it's straightforward.
This guide walks you through a typical U.S. ballot from top to bottom. We'll show you each section the way it actually looks, then explain what it means. Every ballot is a little different depending on your state, county, and district—but the overall structure is remarkably consistent.
The Big Picture
A ballot is organized like a hierarchy. It starts with the biggest races at the top and works its way down to the most local ones, with ballot measures at the end:
Not every section appears on every ballot. In a midterm year like 2026, there's no presidential race—but there's still plenty to vote on. Let's walk through it.
To vote, fill in the oval next to your choice. Vote for the number of candidates indicated.
Federal Offices
These are the races for the U.S. Congress—the people who represent you in Washington, D.C. In a midterm year like 2026, this section includes:
U.S. Senate
Senators serve 6-year terms. About a third of the 100 seats are up each cycle. In 2026, Class II (33 seats last elected in 2020) is on the ballot, plus any special elections for vacancies.
Your state has two senators. You may or may not be voting for one this year.
U.S. House of Representatives
All 435 seats are on the ballot every two years. Each representative serves a specific congressional district. You'll only see the candidates running in your district.
Six states have only one at-large representative for the whole state.
Things to notice on the ballot
- Party abbreviation (DEM, REP, IND) appears next to each name.
- Incumbent badge marks the person currently holding the seat.
- Write-in line lets you vote for someone not listed—rules vary by state.
- "Vote for one" tells you how many selections to make.
In presidential election years (2024, 2028), you'd also see the President and Vice President race at the very top. That's not on the ballot in a midterm.
State Offices
These races decide who leads your state government. The specific offices vary by state, but here are the ones you'll most commonly see:
| Office | What They Do | 2026? |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | Chief executive of the state—signs or vetoes state laws, manages the budget | 36 races |
| Attorney General | Chief legal officer—brings lawsuits on behalf of the state, enforces consumer protection | Varies |
| Secretary of State | Oversees elections, voter registration, and business filings | Varies |
| State Legislature | State senators and representatives who write state laws and set the state budget | Most states |
You might also see races for State Treasurer, State Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, or Lieutenant Governor. Notice that the State Senator race above says "Not this year"—state senate terms are usually 4 years, so your district's seat may not be up in every cycle.
Shall Judge Carol A. Whitfield be retained in office?
Local Offices
This section varies the most from ballot to ballot. Local races are the ones closest to your daily life—the people who manage your schools, roads, police, and courts. Notice a few things that are different from the federal section:
County Offices
County executive, sheriff, district attorney, county clerk, assessor. These officials manage county-level services like courts, jails, and property records.
Nonpartisan Races
See how the school board candidates above don't have party labels? Many local and judicial races are nonpartisan—you'll need to research these candidates on your own. The instruction also says "Vote for up to 3"—you can pick fewer than three, but not more.
Judicial Retention
Instead of choosing between candidates, retention elections ask a simple question: should this judge keep their job? A Yes vote keeps them; a No removes them and the governor appoints a replacement.
Other Local Races
Depending on where you live, you might also see mayor, city council, water district, fire district, or transit authority races. These are almost always nonpartisan.
Shall the county issue $50 million in bonds to fund school construction and renovation? This would result in an estimated property tax increase of $0.12 per $100 assessed value.
Ballot Measures
Ballot measures let you vote directly on laws and policies instead of choosing a person. You'll see them listed as "Proposition," "Measure," "Amendment," or "Question" depending on your state. You simply vote Yes or No.
| Type | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Citizen Initiative | Placed on the ballot by collecting voter signatures. Available in 26 states. |
| Legislative Referral | Placed by the state legislature for voter approval. Available in all 50 states. |
| Constitutional Amendment | Proposes a change to the state constitution. Initiated by citizens or the legislature. |
| Bond Measure | Authorizes the government to borrow money for specific projects—schools, roads, parks. |
| Veto Referendum | Allows voters to approve or reject a law already passed by the legislature. |
How does a ballot measure get on the ballot?
The step-by-step process from idea to election day
How does a ballot measure get on the ballot?
The step-by-step process from idea to election day
Not every measure starts the same way. Legislative referrals skip straight to the ballot—the state legislature votes to put the question to voters. But citizen initiatives—where everyday people propose a new law or constitutional amendment—have to earn their spot. Here's how that works:
Draft & file with election officials
Sponsors write the proposed law or amendment and submit it to the state's election office (usually the Secretary of State). Some states require a fiscal impact review at this stage.
Approved for signature gathering
The state reviews the proposal for legal compliance and approves the official petition language. Once cleared, sponsors can begin collecting signatures.
Collect & submit signatures
Petitioners gather signatures from registered voters—often tens or hundreds of thousands, depending on the state's threshold (typically 5–10% of votes cast in the last governor's race). This is the hardest step.
Signatures verified & certified
Election officials verify signatures are from valid registered voters. If the count meets the threshold, the measure is certified to the ballot. In some states with indirect initiatives, it goes to the legislature first.
On the ballot
The measure appears on the next eligible election ballot. Voter guides are published with the full text, plain-language summary, arguments for and against, and fiscal impact estimates.
Not every state allows citizen initiatives. Only 26 states have an initiative process. In the other 24, ballot measures can only get on the ballot through the legislature. Check Ballotpedia's ballot measures tracker to see what's coming up in your state.
Heads up: ballot measure language can be confusing
Propositions are sometimes written in dense legal language. A "Yes" vote might mean keeping an existing law or removing one—read carefully. Most states mail voter guides with plain-language explanations, arguments for and against, and fiscal impact statements. Read them before election day.
Things to Know Before You Vote
You don't have to vote in every race
Undervoting—leaving a race blank—is completely legal. Your other selections still count normally. It's better to skip a race you don't know than to pick randomly.
Don't overvote
Overvoting—marking too many candidates in one race—means that race won't be counted. Your other selections are still valid. Modern scanners will usually warn you before it's final.
Get a sample ballot early
Most counties mail sample ballots or post them online. Organizations like Vote411 and Ballotpedia also let you preview your ballot. Reviewing it beforehand helps you move through voting day faster.
Provisional ballots exist
If there's a problem at check-in (name not on the rolls, ID issue), you have the right to a provisional ballot under federal law. It's set aside and counted after officials verify your eligibility.
How Ballots Vary by State
While the overall structure is consistent, your ballot experience depends on where you live:
Paper vs. Electronic
Most Americans vote on hand-marked paper ballots fed through an optical scanner. Some jurisdictions use touchscreen ballot-marking devices that print a paper record. A small number still use direct-recording electronic machines.
Mail-In Voting
Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii conduct elections almost entirely by mail. All states allow some form of absentee or mail voting, though the rules for who qualifies vary.
Candidate Order
States handle candidate listing differently. Some list the party that won the last governor's race first. Others rotate order by precinct to reduce "ballot order effect." Some list alphabetically.
Ranked Choice Voting
Alaska and Maine use ranked choice voting for federal races—you rank candidates in order of preference instead of picking one. A growing number of cities use this system for local races too.
Preview Your Actual Ballot
Don't wait until election day to see what's on your ballot. These free tools let you look up exactly what you'll be voting on:
Vote411
Personalized ballot lookup from the League of Women Voters. Enter your address to see every race and measure.
Ballotpedia
Look up sample ballots and candidate information for every race in every state.
Find Your Ballot
Use our tool to see what's on your ballot by state—with links to your Secretary of State.
Guide 20 of 22
Next up: The SAVE Act, Explained — What this bill would change about voter registration and ID requirements.
Previous: Voter Turnout in America
Sources
- Ballotpedia — Comprehensive encyclopedia of U.S. politics and elections
- National Conference of State Legislatures — State election laws and ballot measure processes
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — Ballot design standards and voting system guidelines
- MIT Election Data + Science Lab — Research on ballot design and voter experience
- National Association of Secretaries of State — Official state election information
- FairVote — Information on ranked choice voting
- Help America Vote Act of 2002 — Federal provisional ballot rights
Glossary
9 terms on this page
A proposed law or policy that voters decide directly — yes or no — instead of electing a person.
A ballot measure that lets the government borrow money for specific projects like schools or roads.
A process that lets ordinary voters propose a new law by collecting petition signatures.
A ballot measure placed by the state legislature for voters to approve or reject.
Marking too many candidates in one race, which invalidates that race on your ballot.
A backup ballot you can cast if there's a problem verifying your eligibility at the polls.
A voting method where you rank candidates in order of preference instead of picking just one.
Leaving a race blank on your ballot. It's legal and your other votes still count.
The president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.
Glossary
9 terms on this page
A proposed law or policy that voters decide directly — yes or no — instead of electing a person.
A ballot measure that lets the government borrow money for specific projects like schools or roads.
A process that lets ordinary voters propose a new law by collecting petition signatures.
A ballot measure placed by the state legislature for voters to approve or reject.
Marking too many candidates in one race, which invalidates that race on your ballot.
A backup ballot you can cast if there's a problem verifying your eligibility at the polls.
A voting method where you rank candidates in order of preference instead of picking just one.
Leaving a race blank on your ballot. It's legal and your other votes still count.
The president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.