When you vote, your ballot may include federal, state, and local offices. What appears depends on where you live and what is up for election that year. This list covers the most common elected offices in the United States, but it is not exhaustive. Depending on your state, city, or county, you may also vote for offices like sheriff, district attorney, or school board member, among others.
Federal Offices
President and Vice President
The President is the head of the executive branch and serves a four-year term. Beyond enforcing federal law, the President shapes national policy through executive orders, proposes the federal budget, commands the armed forces, conducts foreign diplomacy, and appoints federal judges, including Supreme Court justices. These appointments alone can shape the direction of American law for decades. The Vice President serves as first in the line of succession and presides over the Senate, casting tie-breaking votes when necessary.
U.S. Senator
Each state elects two senators to six-year terms, giving the Senate a deliberate, slower-moving character than the House. Senators confirm presidential appointments, ratify treaties, and try impeachment cases, in addition to writing and voting on federal legislation. Because senators represent entire states rather than individual districts, they are expected to balance local interests with national ones.
U.S. Representative
Representatives serve two-year terms and represent specific congressional districts drawn based on population. The House initiates all revenue bills and holds the sole power of impeachment. With 435 members, the House is designed to be more directly responsive to shifts in public opinion than the Senate.
State Offices
Governor
The Governor serves as the chief executive of the state, with authority that, in many ways, mirrors that of the President at the federal level. Governors control the state budget, sign or veto legislation, respond to emergencies, and appoint key state officials. The scope of a governor's power varies significantly by state.
Attorney General
The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer, overseeing the enforcement of state law, representing the state in legal matters, and ensuring the state operates within the bounds of both state and federal law. Attorneys general have increasingly become significant actors in national policy debates, challenging or defending federal actions on behalf of their states.
State Senator and State Representative
State legislators write, debate, and vote on the laws that govern daily life within a state, including education policy, healthcare, taxation, criminal justice, and infrastructure. Most states have a bicameral legislature, meaning both chambers must approve a bill before it goes to the governor. State legislatures often have a more direct and immediate impact on residents' lives than Congress does.
Local Offices
Mayor
The Mayor serves as the chief elected official of a city or town, though the actual authority of the office varies widely depending on the city's charter. In strong-mayor systems, the mayor controls the budget, appoints department heads, and holds veto power over the city council. In weak-mayor systems, much of that authority shifts to a professional city manager or the council itself.
City Council Member
City councils serve as the legislative body of local government, passing ordinances, approving budgets, and setting policy on issues that most directly affect residents, including zoning, public safety, infrastructure, and local services. Because local government operates closest to the people, city council decisions often have the most immediate impact on everyday life.
County Judge
In many states, the County Judge serves as both the presiding officer of county government and an administrative leader overseeing the county budget and services. The specific powers of this office vary considerably by state.