Voting guide
What is a sample ballot, and how do I get mine?
Short answer
A sample ballot is an official preview of the exact ballot you will be handed at your polling place, listing every contest and candidate in the order they will appear. You can usually find yours through your state or county election authority's voter lookup a few weeks before Election Day, and in most states you may bring it with you when you vote.
What a sample ballot shows
A sample ballot is not a generic list of everyone running in your state. It is your ballot style — the specific set of contests determined by your precinct — reproduced in the order and format you will actually see.
That includes the exact wording of any ballot measures, which matters: referendum language is often dense, and reading it for the first time in a voting booth is how people end up voting on a question they did not fully parse.
Where to get one
Most states publish sample ballots through an online voter lookup that asks for your name or address. Many counties also post all ballot styles for the county as downloadable PDFs, labeled with a style code.
Some states mail sample ballots to registered voters ahead of an election. If yours does, that mailer is authoritative — it was generated from your registration record.
Using it when you vote
In most states you may bring notes, a marked sample ballot, or a phone with research on it into the voting booth. Rules vary — a few states restrict phone use inside the polling place, usually to prevent photographing ballots.
Marking your sample ballot in advance is the single most effective way to shorten your time in the booth and avoid skipping contests you meant to vote on.
Related questions
Is a sample ballot the same as an absentee ballot?
No. A sample ballot is a preview and cannot be cast. An absentee or mail ballot is a real ballot with return materials and a signature requirement.
Can I take my phone into the voting booth?
In most states, yes, for reference. Some states restrict phone use in the polling place, and photographing your own marked ballot is prohibited in a number of states. Check your state's rules before you go.
Sources
2 sources
Every source links to the original. Tiers follow our source hierarchy.
- T1Can I Vote — official state-by-state voter lookup directory
National Association of Secretaries of State · Official election authority
- T1Voter resources and election administration
U.S. Election Assistance Commission · Official election authority
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Last reviewed September 3, 2026. Election rules vary by state and change — always confirm specifics with your state election authority.