What Are We Voting for Today? How to Find Your Ballot and Polling Place

If you searched “what are we voting for today?” on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the key point is that there is no single ballot for every American. The date is the regularly scheduled federal general election and the 2026 midterm election, but your actual contests depend on your state, county or city, and residential address. Before you leave to vote, check your own sample ballot and polling place through an official election office.

This is a midterm year, not a presidential election year. The U.S. House of Representatives has an election for every seat every two years, and about one-third of the Senate is on the regular election cycle. Your ballot may also include state and local races or ballot measures, but those vary. The Federal Election Commission confirms the November 3 date and notes that elections are administered under state and local rules.

What elections are on the ballot today?

Across the country, voters are choosing members of Congress. All 435 U.S. House seats are up during each midterm and presidential election year. Senate terms are staggered, so only a portion of Senate seats are normally up in a given cycle; a Senate race will not appear on every voter's ballot. A special election can also create a contest outside the regular schedule.

State and local contests depend on the election calendar where you live. Depending on your address, you could see candidates for governor or another statewide office, state legislators, judges, county officials, a mayor or city council, school board members, or other local positions. A ballot may also ask voters to approve or reject a constitutional amendment, bond measure, referendum, or local proposition. These examples are possibilities, not a promise that each race appears everywhere.

Even neighbors can receive different ballots if they live in different congressional, state legislative, city, school, or county districts. Candidate access to the ballot is governed by state law, including for federal races. That is why a national list of candidates cannot reliably tell you exactly what you will see at your polling place.

How to find out what is on your ballot

1. Confirm your registration and address. Start with USAGov's voter registration checker, which routes you to your state's official election website. Review your name and residential address. If you recently moved or changed your name, follow the instructions from the election office; registration-update rules and deadlines differ by state.
2. Open the official sample ballot for your address. On the state or local election website, look for “sample ballot,” “my ballot,” or “voter information.” A sample ballot lists the contests, candidates, and ballot measures expected on your real ballot. USAGov explains that some states mail sample ballots and others let voters download them. Use the ballot tied to your current address and district.
3. Use a voter guide for background. A sample ballot shows what choices are available; it may not explain what candidates or measures would do. Check whether your state or local election office publishes a voter guide, candidate statements, or an official explanation of ballot measures. If you consult another guide, verify its date and compare its contest list with the official sample ballot.
4. Check the rules for taking notes into the booth. You can prepare choices in advance, but local rules on phones and other devices may vary. USAGov recommends checking with the local election office and bringing a paper copy if you are unsure whether phones are allowed.

For the federal midterm overview, see USAGov's guide to congressional and midterm elections. For your exact ballot, use the state or local election office rather than a general national summary.

How to find your polling place today

1. Start from an official lookup. Use USAGov's polling-place guide or the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's state and territory election-office directory. Enter your current residential address only on the official state or local website.
2. Confirm that the location is valid for your precinct. In many places, voters must go to the assigned polling site associated with their address, and the location can change from one election to another. Some jurisdictions use vote centers where any voter in the jurisdiction may vote. Check your local instructions before choosing a site; do not assume a nearby school or a location used in a previous election is still correct.
3. Check today's hours and what to bring. Poll opening and closing times vary by jurisdiction, so there is no single nationwide schedule. Read the hours posted by the office responsible for your polling place, using that location's stated local time. Each state sets its own voter ID rules, and some jurisdictions have additional check-in instructions. Confirm the exact requirements before you go.
4. Plan for access and assistance. If you need an accessible voting location, language assistance, or help marking a ballot, contact the local election office or ask a poll worker about available options. Federal law protects eligible voters' ability to vote privately and independently, with assistance available in specified circumstances.

When you use a maps app for directions, compare the destination with the address listed by the election office. The official lookup is the source for whether that site is assigned to you and whether its hours or location have changed.

What if your name or polling place does not match?

Ask a poll worker to check your registration and precinct before leaving. If the worker cannot find your name or says your eligibility is uncertain, ask what options apply under your state's rules. Federal law generally requires that an eligible voter who says they are registered in the jurisdiction but is not on the list be offered a provisional ballot, with exceptions for certain states that use same-day registration or do not require registration. Election officials later review a provisional ballot and count it only if they verify that the voter is eligible. Follow the instructions the poll worker gives you and keep any receipt or tracking information.

If you are already in line when polls close, stay in line. The Election Assistance Commission lists this among voters' general federal voting rights. If you make a mistake on a ballot, ask a poll worker how to correct it before casting it; the process depends on the voting system used at that location.

A final check before you go

• Is your registration information current for the address where you live?
• Does the sample ballot match your current district and list the races or measures you expect?
• Is the polling place confirmed by the official state or local election site?
• Have you checked today's local opening and closing times, ID rules, and any accessibility instructions?
• Do you know how to ask a poll worker for help if your registration or ballot does not match?

If you can answer those questions, you have a reliable picture of what you are voting on and where to go. For the final word on your ballot, polling place, hours, or eligibility, contact your state or local election office. The FEC's election and voting information page also confirms November 3, 2026, as the federal general election date and links to state election offices.