For U.S. elections, start with your state or local election office to confirm what is on your ballot. Then use that office’s voter guide and VOTE411 to learn about candidates and ballot measures. A sample ballot verifies the contests for your address; it is not a substitute for candidate research.
Start by confirming your ballot
Use USAGov’s election office directory to find the appropriate state or local election office, then look up the ballot or sample ballot for your address. USAGov explains that “Sample ballots simply show you the elections and candidates and any ballot measures that will be on your real ballot.” That makes a sample ballot a useful checklist of what to research, rather than a source of background on the people or proposals.
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Check the jurisdiction and election date shown on the ballot. City and county contests may not appear in statewide materials, so consult the relevant local election office if your sample ballot or statewide guide seems incomplete.
Use official guides and VOTE411 for background
Your state or local voter guide
An official voter guide may explain ballot measures and include candidate statements or other election information. What it covers varies by state and local jurisdiction, so check which contests it includes and whether the election date matches yours. The 2025 NCSL and U.S. Election Assistance Commission report describes variation in guide responsibility, required content, measure summaries, review of arguments, and distribution among states.
VOTE411
VOTE411, a service of the League of Women Voters Education Fund, offers general and state-specific information, including factual information about federal, state, and local candidates and ballot measures where available. Its “Personalized Ballot and Candidate Information” tool can help organize research around your ballot. The League says it is strictly nonpartisan and neither supports nor opposes candidates. Still, confirm that the races and measures shown match your official ballot: available information can vary by contest.
How to evaluate ballot-measure information
Read the actual measure text and any official or impartial analysis before weighing campaign arguments. Pay attention to who wrote each section: neutral analysis, supporters’ arguments, and opponents’ arguments serve different purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
California illustrates how these parts can appear together in an official guide. Its Secretary of State says the guide includes an impartial analysis and potential taxpayer costs prepared by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, arguments for and against prepared by proponents and opponents, and measure text and a summary prepared by the Attorney General or Legislature. The California Voter Information Guides page links the November 3, 2026 general-election guide as well as earlier guides.
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A statewide guide may leave out local candidates or measures. For instance, the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission says its Voter Education Guide for November 3, 2026 includes statewide and legislative candidate statements, but does not list every candidate a voter may see. It directs voters to additional candidate lookup resources. The page also says local propositions were still being researched and added when reviewed, so check it again as the election approaches.
When information is missing, look to your county or city election office and reputable local guides. For nonprofit or regional media guides, check the publisher’s funding, sourcing, editorial method, and whether it makes endorsements or takes positions. A political party’s guide can explain its preferences, but it is advocacy—not a neutral guide.
A practical source-checking sequence
- Find the election office: Use USAGov’s state election office directory to locate official state or local election information.
- Get the address-specific ballot: Check the official sample ballot or ballot lookup for the correct election date and jurisdiction. Note every candidate race and measure.
- Read the official guide: Check which contests it covers and identify whether statements or arguments come from candidates, supporters, opponents, or government analysts.
- Research with VOTE411: Look for candidate and measure information in the League of Women Voters Education Fund’s guide, and note where information is unavailable.
- Fill local gaps and compare claims: Consult county or city sources and other transparent local guides. For measures, compare text and impartial analysis with attributed campaign arguments; for candidates, distinguish their own statements from independently documented records or reporting.
Bring your notes to the polling place carefully
USAGov says voters may bring notes, a voter guide, or a sample ballot into the voting booth. Rules are not uniform, however: some polling places restrict cell phone use. Check local rules if you plan to use a device; a paper copy is the safer option when you are unsure.
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