USA Simple Civics · Understanding elections
You should be able to find who is running, what the job involves and what each person wants to do. Instead, those answers are often spread across several websites.
Start here
Use your voting address to find the races that apply to you.
VOTE411 provides personalized voter guides from the League of Women Voters Education Fund, including candidate answers where available.
Look up my ballot on VOTE411A nongovernment voter guide. Some races or candidate answers may not be available.Find your state or local election office, then look for its sample ballot or voter lookup for your address and election.
Find my official election officeBest source for the official candidate list, voting dates and local instructions.Another address-based guide: BallotReady. Enter your address on the service you choose.
Why the search takes work
Finding the names and understanding the choices are two different tasks. Here are several reasons the second task can be harder.
States set many election rules, and counties, cities or towns often run the election. That means different websites, search tools and ways of sharing information.
You may live in one district for Congress, another for state lawmakers and another for a local board. A citywide list can include people you cannot vote for. Your exact voting address matters.
An official sample ballot shows the contests and names you will see. It generally does not explain each person’s experience, plans or past decisions. Voter guides do a different job.
Voter guides ask candidates to explain their positions. Some do not respond. That leaves a gap even when the guide asks candidates the same questions.
“No response” means no answer was received. It does not mean the candidate is off the ballot or has no views.
Some communities have reporters who interview candidates and attend public meetings. Others have much less local news coverage. Medill’s research documents communities losing news outlets.
With less reporting to draw on, voters may have fewer independent explanations of local races.
A campaign website explains what a candidate wants you to know. A voting record shows official actions. A news story adds reporting and context. One source rarely answers everything.
A newcomer may have no public voting record. That is different from refusing to share information.
| Source | Useful for | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Official sample ballot | Which contests and names appear on your ballot. | Who would do the best job. |
| Voter guide | Background, issue summaries and candidate answers. | That every answer is independently checked or every candidate answered. |
| Campaign website or ad | The candidate’s stated goals and arguments. | That promises are realistic or claims are proven. |
| Public records | Votes, budgets, meeting minutes and other documented actions. | The full story without reading the context. |
| News reporting or a candidate forum | Questions, comparisons and explanations beyond campaign material. | That every topic was covered. Check who produced it and whether it is reporting or opinion. |
What could make this easier?
These are improvements this site suggests—not requirements that every election office already follows.
The goal is to make the choices easier to understand while leaving the decision to the voter.
Reviewed October 17, 2026. The explanation above combines the sources below with practical guidance. Coverage varies by place and election. USA Simple Civics does not endorse or rank candidates.
Related: Your Ballot & Voting · How Elections Work · Redistricting & Gerrymandering