Step 6 of 8

Decide who or what to vote for

This is the heart of voting: choosing. Here is the good news — there is no wrong way to decide. Your vote is yours. Use whatever helps you feel sure.

Ways people decide — pick any that help you

• Ask people you trust — family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or a community or faith leader.
• Read what the candidates say — their own websites and the mailers they send you.
• Read the newspaper’s picks — many papers say who they think is best, and why. These are called endorsements.
• Use a free voter guide — groups like the League of Women Voters (Vote411) explain the choices without taking sides.
• Watch them talk — many candidates hold public events (forums) or post videos.
• Read the news about them.
• See who supports them — people and groups you respect often say who they back.
• Look at what they have done before — their record and experience.
• Reach out to them — go to an event, or email or call and ask a question.
• Pick your top issue — choose the one thing you care about most, and see who agrees with you.
• For a ballot measure — read the short summary, and the reasons people give for yes and for no.

You can skip any race you are unsure about. You can vote on just one thing and nothing else. All of that is fine.

The people on your ballot decide real things in your life: your rent and taxes, whether your street gets fixed, how your schools and parks are run. Voting is how you get a say.