The person who holds an office now. An incumbent running again is seeking re-election.
Open seat
A seat where the current officeholder is not running, for example because they retired or are term-limited.
Term limit
A rule that caps how many terms a person may serve in an office. Many governors are limited to two terms in a row.
Special election
An election held outside the regular schedule to fill a seat that became vacant early. The winner usually serves the rest of the original term.
Midterm election
A general election held halfway through a president's four-year term. All 435 House seats and about one-third of Senate seats are on the ballot.
Primary election
An election that picks each party's nominee (or, in top-two systems, the two finalists) before the general election.
General election
The election in November where voters choose who will hold an office. In 2026 it is on Tuesday, Nov 3.
Ranked-choice voting
A system where voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no one has a majority of first choices, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots count for their next choice, repeating until someone has a majority.
Runoff
A second election between the top finishers when no candidate reaches the required share of the vote, such as a majority.
Plurality
The most votes of any candidate, even if that is less than half.
Majority
More than half of the votes cast. In Congress, it also means controlling more than half of the seats.
Percent reporting / expected vote
An estimate of how much of the total vote has been counted so far. 60% expected vote means roughly six in ten ballots have been counted.
Called race
A projection by a news organization such as AP that a candidate has won, made before every vote is counted. A call is not an official result.
Leading
Ahead in the votes counted so far. A candidate who is leading has not necessarily won.
Certification
The official step, done by state and local election officials weeks after Election Day, that confirms the final vote totals.
Canvass
The official review of every ballot and tally by election officials before results are certified.
Provisional ballot
A ballot cast when a voter's eligibility needs to be checked, for example if their name is not on the rolls. It is counted only after officials confirm the voter is eligible.
Absentee / mail ballot
A ballot voted away from the polling place and returned by mail or drop box. Some states count these after Election Day ballots.
Early voting
Voting in person at designated locations before Election Day.
Recount
A second count of the ballots, often required automatically when the margin is very small.
Ballot measure
A question on the ballot where voters decide a law or policy directly instead of choosing a candidate.
Initiative
A ballot measure placed on the ballot by citizens who gathered enough petition signatures.
Referendum
A ballot measure that asks voters to approve or reject a law, often one already passed by the legislature.
Legislative referral
A ballot measure placed on the ballot by the state legislature.
Constitutional amendment
A change to a state's constitution. Most states require voter approval for amendments.
Bond issue
A ballot measure asking voters to approve state borrowing for projects such as schools or roads.
Cook rating (Solid, Likely, Lean, Toss Up)
A forecast from the Cook Political Report of how competitive a race is. Solid means not expected to be competitive; Toss Up means either party could win. Ratings are forecasts, not results.
Flip
When a seat changes from one party to another compared with who holds it now.
Write-in candidate
A candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot; voters write the name in. Many states count only declared write-ins.
Electoral precinct
The smallest local voting area, with its own polling place and ballot count.