downballot

Downballot refers to all elective contests on a political ballot that occur below the high-profile top-of-ticket race, such as the presidential election. Downballot races include state legislatures, governors, attorney general, secretary of state, and local offices such as mayors and council members, as well as school boards and judicial elections in jurisdictions that elect judges by popular vote. The term is most commonly used in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in other countries with similar ballot structures, to distinguish these contests from the top-of-ticket race. The concept is central to analyses of voter behavior and party organization, as outcomes in downballot races can divert from those in the highest-profile race.

Voter behavior in downballot races is affected by the coattail effect, which describes how the success or failure of a top-ticket candidate can influence other candidates from the same party. However, downballot results often diverge from presidential or prime ministerial results due to local issues, candidate quality, incumbency, and party organization at the local level. Voters may engage in ticket splitting, voting for candidates from different parties for different offices, or vote straight-ticket in some elections. Turnout, ballot design, and election timing also shape downballot outcomes.

Campaigns and party organizations monitor downballot races closely because they determine governance at state and local levels and can influence policy trajectories. Analysts measure downballot performance by comparing vote shares and margins across races on the same ballot, examining incumbency, fundraising, and turnout effects. In short, downballot dynamics reflect the interplay of national trends with local factors and organizational strength.