Elections · Chapter 08
What is a nonpartisan race?
A nonpartisan race is one in which candidates appear on the ballot without a party label next to their name.
Plain English
What it actually means
Many local offices — like school board seats, some judicial seats, and many city council races — are nonpartisan by law. Candidates may still have political views or party affiliations, but the ballot itself does not show a party next to their name.
Some states hold a single nonpartisan election; others use a “top-two” format where the leading finishers advance to a runoff.
Why this matters when voting
Because there is no party label to lean on, voters often have to do a little extra research to learn who each candidate is. That’s exactly the kind of race where Political Lens candidate profiles can help.
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Sources
Where this information comes from
Last updated May 10, 2026. Civic Basics chapters cite official .gov sources where possible and are reviewed for neutrality.
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