Courts
What elected judges do
Judges apply statutes and constitutions to cases. They do not pass budgets or write new criminal codes. Many states still put some judges on the ballot.
Sep 10, 2026 · 6 min read · WhyIVote civic explainer
The office
Federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They are not on your 2026 ballot.
State and local judges may be elected, appointed, or retained on a yes/no ballot. Trial judges hear evidence. Appellate judges review legal error. State supreme courts are the last word on state law unless a federal issue is raised.
What they can change
- The outcome of the case in front of them, under law.
- How a statute is interpreted until a higher court or the legislature responds.
- Injunctions that halt an agency action that violates law.
Money they vote on
Courts do not appropriate. Court budgets are legislative. A judge cannot fund a school or raise a tax.
Who they can help — and who they cannot
Parties to a filed case. They cannot give you private legal advice, rewrite a statute they dislike, or manage a sheriff’s patrol map. Campaigning judges are still bound by ethics codes on what they may promise.
