You can quickly see what is on your ballot this year by using a few trusted tools and official sites, then double‑checking any local races or measures.

What “what is on my ballot” really means

When people search “what is on my ballot,” they’re usually trying to see:

  • Every office they’ll vote for (president, Congress, governor, mayor, city council, school board, judges, etc.).
  • All statewide and local ballot measures (constitutional amendments, tax changes, bond issues, referendums).
  • Which specific candidates will appear based on their address and districts, not just a generic list.

A good check is: if you only see 1–2 races, you probably haven’t found the complete picture yet.

Step‑by‑step: How to see your ballot

Use these steps in order; each step adds more detail if the previous one is incomplete.

  1. Look up your official sample ballot from your state/local election office
    • Go to your state or county elections website and look for links like “My Voter Page,” “Voter Lookup,” or “Sample Ballot.”
 * Many states have “voter portal” tools where you enter your name, date of birth, and/or address, then see a sample ballot that should match your in‑person ballot.
  1. Use a trusted ballot lookup tool for extra context
    • Nonpartisan sites like Ballotpedia have a Sample Ballot Lookup Tool where you enter your address and see races and candidates, often with bios and explanations.
 * These tools are designed so you don’t have to click around 20 different websites just to piece together your ballot.
  1. Check for local city/municipal races that might be missing
    • Sometimes your state’s “My Voter Page” only shows statewide or special elections, while city races (mayor, council, school board) are listed separately or in a PDF on your city or county site.
 * In one recent forum example, a Georgia voter saw only Public Service Commission races on the state site, but others pointed them to city and county sample‑ballot PDFs that showed mayor and council contests as well.
  1. If you vote by mail, review the ballot itself early
    • If your state allows vote‑by‑mail, you can request a mail ballot from your county elections office and you’ll get the full ballot at home to review before returning it.
 * States like Florida, for example, provide online pages where you can request and track a vote‑by‑mail ballot through your county supervisor of elections.
  1. Call or email your local elections office if something looks off
    • If your sample ballot looks incomplete (for example, you know there’s a mayoral race but don’t see it), contact your county or city election office and ask them to confirm what should appear for your address.
 * Election offices can explain quirks like: living in an unincorporated area, odd‑year local elections, or special elections that appear on different dates.

What you’ll usually see on your ballot

The exact list depends on where you live and the year, but common categories include:

  • National offices: President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House (not every office is on the ballot every year).
  • Statewide: Governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, other state executives, state supreme court or appellate judges.
  • State legislature: State Senate and State House/Assembly seats for your districts.
  • County/local offices: County commission or board, sheriff, clerk, district attorney, school board, special districts.
  • Ballot measures: Constitutional amendments, tax levies, bonds, charter changes, citizen initiatives, etc.

A single voter might easily have 20–40 separate choices on a general‑election ballot once you count every local race and measure.

Helpful online tools and how they differ

Here’s a quick look at the kinds of tools you’ll run into when searching “what is on my ballot.”

Tool type What it shows Pros Limits
State/county “My Voter Page” Official registration, polling place, sample ballot, vote‑by‑mail status (varies by state). Authoritative and directly tied to your real ballot. Sometimes only lists certain races or special elections; local city races may be in separate PDFs.
Nonpartisan info sites (e.g., Ballotpedia) Sample ballot lookup, candidate bios, measure summaries, links to more detailed articles. Great for researching candidates and understanding measures in plain language. Might not cover every small local office in every state, especially for very small jurisdictions.
News/tech explainers (like CNET guides) How‑to guides on checking your ballot, registration, and early voting. Easy to read, walk you through multiple resources step by step. They point you to tools, but aren’t the official ballot source themselves.
Local forum posts/Reddit threads Links to city PDFs, community explanations of local races and district quirks. Good for uncovering local resources that aren’t obvious from state sites. Unofficial; you should always confirm anything you learn there with official sources.

Staying informed and avoiding misinformation

With election content everywhere, it’s important to sort fact from spin while you research your ballot.

  • Slow down before sharing or acting on dramatic election posts or viral clips.
  • Watch or read the full piece; emotional, all‑caps language and name‑calling can be red flags.
  • Cross‑check claims using established fact‑checking outlets and look up candidate or measure details on nonpartisan sites.
  • Treat your state/county election office as the final word on what’s actually on your ballot and where/when you vote.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.