Frequently asked
Common questions about voting in 2026
Short answers, with links to the longer explanations. Election rules vary by state and change — always confirm specifics with your own election authority.
The basics
When is the 2026 election?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. That is the general election, held nationwide. Most states held their primaries earlier in 2026 — those are separate elections with separate ballots.
What is on my ballot?
It depends on your exact street address, not your city or ZIP code. Your address places you in a congressional district, state legislative districts, a county, and usually a municipality and school district. The combination determines your contests. Two neighbours on the same street can have different ballots.
What is being decided in 2026?
All 435 U.S. House seats, 33 regularly scheduled U.S. Senate seats, and 36 governorships — plus thousands of state legislative, county, municipal, judicial and special district offices, and state and local ballot measures.
Why do midterm elections matter?
Midterms decide control of Congress, most governorships, and nearly every state legislature — plus the local offices that set property tax rates, run jails, and govern school districts. Turnout is typically far lower than a presidential year, so each vote carries more weight.
Registering and voting
How do I check if I am registered to vote?
Use your state election authority's official voter lookup. Do it several weeks ahead — registration deadlines in many states fall 15 to 30 days before the election, and a lapsed registration cannot always be fixed at the polls.
Do I need ID to vote?
It depends on your state. Some require photo ID every time, some accept documents like a utility bill or bank statement, and some require no document from a registered voter whose signature matches. Check your state's rule rather than assuming.
Can I vote early or by mail?
Most states offer early in-person voting and some form of mail or absentee voting, but the rules and deadlines vary widely. Early in-person voting is generally the most forgiving — you can often fix a registration problem on the spot.
What if I am told I am not on the list?
Ask for a provisional ballot. It is set aside and counted once officials confirm your eligibility. Never leave without voting provisionally.
Understanding the ballot
What does a county commissioner do?
Sets the county property tax rate and adopts the county budget, approves land use in unincorporated areas, and funds the sheriff, courts, public health and libraries. They fund the school system but do not run it.
What does a sheriff do?
Runs the county jail, patrols unincorporated areas, serves warrants and court papers, and sets department policy — including, in many states, how the county cooperates with federal immigration detainers.
Should I vote in judicial races if I do not know the candidates?
Judicial candidates are evaluated on legal experience, prior judicial service, bar evaluations and written opinions rather than policy promises, which ethics rules limit. If you cannot evaluate a race, leaving it blank does not invalidate the rest of your ballot.
Does a YES vote on a ballot measure always mean change?
No. Depending on how a measure is drafted, a YES can enact a change or reject one. Read the operative language — authorises, prohibits, requires, limits — rather than relying on the direction of the vote.
Is it bad to leave part of my ballot blank?
No. An undervote in one contest has no effect on any other contest. A deliberate blank in a race you could not research is a more considered choice than a coin flip.
About Ballot Explained
Does Ballot Explained tell me who to vote for?
No. It does not rank, score or endorse candidates, and it lists them in ballot order. It shows what each candidate says they stand for, what they have documented doing, and arguments others make for and against them — each attributed to a named source.
Do you store my address?
No. Your address is sent once to determine your districts and then discarded. It is never written to a database, never placed in a URL, and never included in a prompt to any AI service.
Where does your information come from?
Official election authorities first, then government records, then candidates' own materials, then journalism, then clearly labelled advocacy sources. Every claim links to its source, and anything we could not verify is listed as unverified rather than filled in.
Is this a substitute for my election office?
No. This is built to help you start getting informed. Your state or county election authority is the official record of your registration and what appears on your ballot, and we link to it on every page.
See your own ballot
Enter your address to see every contest you’ll vote on, who is running, and what each office actually does.
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