https://decentballot.com/blog/ Plain-English explainers for the 2026 election. en-us https://decentballot.com/blog/new-york-voting-guide-2026/https://decentballot.com/blog/new-york-voting-guide-2026/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTEverything you need to vote in New York on November 3, 2026: register by October 24, early voting October 24 to November 1, no-excuse mail ballots, when you need ID, and why the same candidate shows up on more than one line. https://decentballot.com/blog/texas-voting-guide-2026/https://decentballot.com/blog/texas-voting-guide-2026/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTEverything you need to vote in Texas on November 3, 2026: early voting October 19 to 30, the seven accepted photo IDs, mail ballot deadlines, no straight-ticket option, and whether you can bring notes. https://decentballot.com/blog/county-offices-explained/https://decentballot.com/blog/county-offices-explained/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA plain-English guide to the local offices on your 2026 ballot: county commissioner, county judge, sheriff, district attorney, clerks, tax assessor, constable, justice of the peace and school board. https://decentballot.com/blog/how-to-vote-for-judges/https://decentballot.com/blog/how-to-vote-for-judges/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTJudicial races are the longest and least-known part of most ballots. Here's how to size up judges in ten minutes, what retention votes mean, and why skipping them hands the decision to someone else. https://decentballot.com/blog/how-to-research-local-candidates/https://decentballot.com/blog/how-to-research-local-candidates/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTSchool board, city council and county races rarely get news coverage. Here's the quick method we use to size up candidates with no voting record, no party label and barely a website. https://decentballot.com/blog/why-down-ballot-races-matter/https://decentballot.com/blog/why-down-ballot-races-matter/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTDown-ballot races like county commissioner, sheriff, judge and school board decide your taxes, schools and jail. They're also the races most voters skip, which makes each vote count for more. https://decentballot.com/blog/early-voting-2026/https://decentballot.com/blog/early-voting-2026/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhen and where to vote early for the November 3, 2026 election in 72 counties across 13 states, with links to each county's polling place list and a sourced voter guide. https://decentballot.com/blog/2026-governor-senate-races/https://decentballot.com/blog/2026-governor-senate-races/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWho is running for governor and U.S. Senate on November 3, 2026 in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin, with every candidate rated on character and sourced.