United States presidential election
At the top of every ballot are some familiar names: candidates for president and vice president. The Republican nominees are Donald J. Trump and JD Vance. The Democratic nominees are Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz.
Five independent tickets are also seeking votes for president and vice president.
Go here to find a sample ballot specific to you, and scroll down to see all the candidates.
U.S. president and vice president
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The president directs the executive branch of the United States government and enforces the laws passed by Congress. Presidents can also veto, or reject, laws passed by Congress. Depending on approval by Congress, the president appoints cabinet members to head major executive branch departments, including the U.S. attorney general, secretary of state, and secretary of defense. Presidents also appoint federal and Supreme Court judges with congressional approval, and they serve as the highest-ranking officer of every branch of the U.S. military.
The vice president is next in line to lead the executive branch if the sitting president dies, resigns, or is removed from office via impeachment or by the presidential cabinet according to the 25th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The V.P. also serves as president of the U.S. Senate and gets to cast the decisive vote in the case of 50-50 tie. A top advisor to the president, the V.P. may lead some of the president's policy goals.