Do you need to vote in every race on your ballot?

Voters in US elections do not have to make a choice in every race or ballot measure. Leaving a contest blank is known as an undervote. The ballot can still be submitted, and votes marked in other contests are counted. The guidance is relevant to voters who are undecided about a candidate or unfamiliar with a local race: skipping one choice does not cancel the choices they have made elsewhere on the ballot.

An undervote can also occur when a contest allows several selections and a voter makes fewer than the maximum. Election officials record those unmarked choices separately from votes cast. Voters should check their ballot before submitting it, since an empty contest could be accidental. Polling-place systems may flag an undervote and give voters an opportunity to review their selections, while instructions and procedures vary by jurisdiction.