Voting guides
The questions people actually ask before an election.
Procedural, nonpartisan, and applicable in every state. Where rules differ by state — and many do, sharply — we say so rather than generalizing.
How do I find out what's on my ballot?
Your ballot is set by your street address, not your city or ZIP code. Here's how ballots are actually assembled and how to see yours.
Read the guideWhat is a sample ballot, and how do I get mine?
A sample ballot is an exact preview of the ballot you'll receive. Here's what it shows, where to get it, and how to use it in the voting booth.
Read the guideHow do I find my congressional district?
Your congressional district comes from your street address and can change between elections. Here's how to check yours and what redistricting means for it.
Read the guideHow do I check if I'm registered to vote?
Registration can lapse without warning. Here's how to verify your status, what commonly cancels a registration, and how to fix a problem before Election Day.
Read the guideWhat do I need to bring to vote?
ID requirements differ sharply by state. Here's how to find out what yours requires and what else is worth bringing.
Read the guideHow do I research candidates I've never heard of?
A practical method for evaluating local candidates when there's little coverage — what sources to trust, in what order, and what to ignore.
Read the guideHow do I understand a confusing ballot measure?
Referendum language is dense and sometimes deliberately hard to parse. A method for working out what a YES and a NO actually do.
Read the guideWhy do down-ballot races matter so much?
The offices at the bottom of the ballot control property taxes, jails, schools, and land use — and are decided by a fraction of the voters who show up.
Read the guideWhat's the difference between a primary and a general election?
Primaries choose each party's nominee and often decide the seat outright. Here's how open, closed, and top-two systems differ.
Read the guideShould I vote early, by mail, or on Election Day?
Each method has different deadlines and different failure modes. Here's how to pick and how to make sure your ballot counts.
Read the guide