Understand your ballot

Review your ballot step by step

At first glance, a ballot can look complicated. Start with the basics: what appears on your ballot, how to compare choices, and what to ask before deciding.

Start

What appears on my ballot

A ballot may include candidates, measures, judges, public offices, and other decisions.

Candidates

People seeking public office. You can review which office they want, what experience they have, and what they say about the issues that matter to you.

Measures or propositions

Written decisions on the ballot. Depending on the measure, you may vote “yes” or “no” to approve or reject a change, expense, tax, or rule.

Judges

Judges appear on some ballots. Sometimes voters elect them; other times voters decide whether they remain in office.

Local offices

Offices that may affect schools, housing, safety, transportation, services, health coverage, wages, immigration, the environment, and decisions close to your community.

How to compare candidates

Deciding which candidate to support is an important responsibility. The goal is not to find a perfect person, but to choose the candidate who best represents your needs, your values, and your community using current information—not feelings alone.

How to compare candidates

Stronger basis for deciding	Weaker or less reliable
Their proposals reflect issues that matter to me, my family, or my community.	“I like them.”
They explain clearly what they want to do if elected.	“I saw them in a lot of ads.”
They have experience or preparation related to the office they seek.	“They look strong.”
Their answers in a nonpartisan guide help me understand their positions.	“My friends say they are good.”
I can compare what they say with other reliable sources.	“I read a flyer or watched a video.”
I understand who supports them and who funds their campaign.	“They say this person is raising a lot of money.”
Their positions generally match what I want for my community.	“I will vote for them because I recognize the name.”
When I am not sure, I look for more information before deciding.	“I did not understand, but I marked something anyway.”

How to use reliable sources

For questions about dates, rules, registration, voting locations, and sample ballots, begin with an official source.

For information about candidates, measures, and ballot issues, compare sources: nonpartisan guides, reliable news outlets, candidate or campaign pages, and other sources that explain where their information comes from. Do not rely only on campaign messages or social media.

If a message pressures or frightens you, or triggers a strong reaction, review how to identify questionable information before you believe or share it.

Open reliable sources

Before deciding

Confirm your sources

After reviewing your ballot, the next step is to confirm your sources before deciding.

You do not have to solve the whole ballot at once. Start with the issues that matter most to you, write down your questions, and compare information before deciding.

What appears on my ballot?
What does it mean for my family or community?
Where did this information come from?
Who supports or opposes it?
How can I confirm it?

Next: Sources