down-ballot
Below the top
Down-ballot refers to races and candidates listed below the top positions on an election ballot.
Presidential or gubernatorial races appear first; down-ballot races include state legislators, judges, and local officials.
The term often implies these races receive less attention: Voters focused on the presidential race often ignore down-ballot candidates.
Down-ballot effects describe how a strong candidate at the top can boost or drag down others from their party.
Those seeking selection
- incumbentsCurrent holders of positions
- challengersThose who compete against
- primariesIntraparty nomination contests
- runoffExcess water drainage
endorsements · campaigns · platforms · constituents · representatives · senators · assemblymembers · councilors
Fewer selections than allowed
- dropoffAbrupt descent point
- voter educationTeaching about electoral processes
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
engagement · participation · mobilization · canvassing · name recognition · visibility · outreach · activism
Elected local legislator
- aldermanElected municipal legislator
- mayorElected head of municipality
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- commissionerAppointed agency leader
ward · precinct · borough · township · municipality · city hall · ordinance · zoning
Device for casting ballots
- paper trailDocumentary evidence chain
- absenteeOne not in attendance
- early votingBalloting before election day
- polling placeDesignated voting location
partisan · nonpartisan · write-in · slate · ticket splitting · lever · touchscreen · oval
candidates
Those seeking selection
- incumbentsCurrent holders of positions
- challengersThose who compete against
- primariesIntraparty nomination contests
runoff · endorsements · campaigns · platforms · constituents · representatives · senators · assemblymembers · councilors · sheriffs
undervote
Fewer selections than allowed
- dropoffAbrupt descent point
- voter educationTeaching about electoral processes
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
civic duty · engagement · participation · mobilization · canvassing · name recognition · visibility · outreach · activism · grassroots
councilmember
Elected local legislator
- aldermanElected municipal legislator
- mayorElected head of municipality
- supervisorOne who directs workers
commissioner · ward · precinct · borough · township · municipality · city hall · ordinance · zoning · sheriff
voting machine
Device for casting ballots
- paper trailDocumentary evidence chain
- absenteeOne not in attendance
- early votingBalloting before election day
polling place · partisan · nonpartisan · write-in · slate · ticket splitting · lever · touchscreen · oval · bubble
- electionsvoter registration, candidates, polls, election day, voters
- ballots
- election resultsvictory, defeat, winner, loser, win