WhyIVote Resources
Offices on your ballot
A map of common U.S. elected offices, then a short explainer for each. Titles vary by state (assembly vs house, parish vs county). WhyIVote explanation — not a candidate claim. Confirm procedures with official sources.
Structure
Not every ballot has every office. Special districts (water, fire, transit) appear in some places. Federal judges are appointed, not elected.
Federal
United States government. 2026 is a congressional election year, not a presidential one.
- President & Vice PresidentNext regular election 2028
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives
State
Capitol. Laws and the state budget. Names of the lower chamber vary (House vs Assembly).
- Governor
- Lieutenant governor
- State senate
- State house / assembly
- Attorney general
- Secretary of state
- Treasurer / comptroller / auditorMoney officers; see also Who votes on the money
County
County board, law enforcement, and local prosecution. Titles: commission, supervisors, parish.
- County commission / board of supervisors
- Sheriff
- District attorney / prosecutor
- Clerk, assessor, treasurer, coronerOften elected; powers are statutory and local
Local
Cities, towns, and school districts. Charters differ — read yours.
- Mayor
- City council
- School board
- Special districts (water, fire, transit, hospital)Elected in some places; check the ballot
Courts
Federal judges are appointed. Many state and local judges still appear on ballots.
Federal
3 articles
Federal
What the U.S. House of Representatives actually does
House members write and vote on federal law, start spending bills, and do casework for a congressional district. They do not run your city or write state law.
Sep 10, 2026
Federal
What the U.S. Senate actually does
Two senators per state vote on federal law and spending, confirm judges and Cabinet officers, and ratify treaties. They share power with the House and the President.
Sep 10, 2026
Federal
What the President of the United States does
The President enforces federal law, commands the military, nominates judges and Cabinet officers, and signs or vetoes bills. Congress still writes the statutes and the money.
Sep 10, 2026
State
6 articles
State
What a state senator does
State senators vote on statewide law and the state budget, often confirm appointments, and handle casework with state agencies. They do not write federal law.
Sep 10, 2026
State
What a state representative or assembly member does
The lower chamber writes and votes on state law and budgets. In New York that chamber is the Assembly. In most states it is the House. The job is close to home, with hard limits.
Sep 10, 2026
State
What a governor can — and cannot — do
Governors sign or veto bills, propose budgets, appoint agency heads, and run the state’s executive branch. They do not pass laws alone and they do not run the federal government.
Sep 10, 2026
State
What a lieutenant governor does
Usually first in line if the governor leaves office. In many states they preside over the state senate. Powers vary more than almost any other statewide job.
Sep 10, 2026
State
What a state attorney general does
The state’s chief legal officer. They defend the state in court, issue legal opinions, and often enforce consumer and criminal statutes the legislature wrote. They do not sit as a judge.
Sep 10, 2026
State
What a secretary of state does
In most states this office runs elections administration, business filings, and official records. They do not write tax law or command the National Guard.
Sep 10, 2026
County
3 articles
County
What a county commission controls
County boards set the county budget and tax levy, vote on land use in unincorporated areas, and fund county services. In Clark County, Nevada, commissioners also govern University Medical Center.
Sep 10, 2026
County
What a sheriff does
Usually the county’s elected law-enforcement officer: jail, court security, and patrol in unincorporated areas. They do not write criminal law or run city police inside a city that has its own department.
Sep 10, 2026
County
What a district attorney or county prosecutor does
They decide whether to charge a crime under existing law, and how to prosecute it. They do not write the criminal code or sit as the judge.
Sep 10, 2026
Local
3 articles
Local
What a mayor does
The city’s chief executive — in strong-mayor cities. In council-manager cities the mayor may mainly chair the council. Always check the charter before you assign blame.
Sep 10, 2026
Local
What a city council does
The city’s legislature: ordinances, the city budget, and often zoning inside city limits. They do not pass state law or run the county hospital.
Sep 10, 2026
Local
What a school board does
The local education legislature: budget, superintendent, and policy for one district. They do not set the state’s funding formula or write federal education law.
Sep 10, 2026
Courts
1 articles
Money
1 articles
