The decisions made in city halls, state legislatures, and Congress shape the safety of our neighborhoods, the funding our communities receive, and the future we’re building together.
This election, your voice belongs at the ballot box.
Voting is Violence Prevention.
Election Day is in…
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Why Encourage Young Black and Brown People to Vote?
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement estimates that 47% of young people ages 18-29 voted in the 2024 election. Of the young people who voted…
… actually cast a vote.
Young Black and Brown voices deserve to have their voices heard in our government - and it begins at the ballot box.
As a response to low voter turnout among Black and brown youth, Voting is Violence Prevention was created to increase representation among young voters. This initiative is also designed to excite and educate voters about key information on how to prepare to cast their ballot in the 2026 midterm election and activate friends to do the same.
What’s On the Ballot?
Senate Races
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U.S. Senate: Cory Booker is running for re-election.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 24–November 1, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
New Jersey 2026 Election Information -
U.S. Senate: Chris Coons is running for re-election.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Primary Election: September 15, 2026
Early Voting for General Election: October 22–November 1, 2026
Voter Registration Deadline: October 10, 2026
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: October 30, 2026
Absentee Ballots Due: 8 p.m. on November 3, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Senate Races & Ballot Initiatives
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U.S. Senate: Open seat.
Statewide Ballot Measures:
Property Taxes: A proposed constitutional change concerning property-tax policy.
Income Tax Limits: A proposed constitutional change concerning limits on the state income tax.
Voter Identification: A proposed constitutional change concerning voter identification requirements.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 15–31, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
North Carolina State Board of Elections -
U.S. Senate: Mark Warner is running for re-election.
Statewide Constitutional Amendments:
Reproductive Freedom: Would establish constitutional protections for individuals’ rights to make decisions regarding reproductive health care, including abortion.
Marriage Equality: Would require equal treatment under Virginia law for a lawful marriage between two adults, regardless of sex, gender, or race.
Voting Rights Restoration: Would automatically restore voting rights to individuals upon release from incarceration.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Voting Options: Vote by mail or in person.
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Virginia Department of Elections
Gubernatorial Races & Ballot Initiatives
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Governor: Wes Moore (D) is running for re-election.
Statewide Ballot Questions:
Question 1 — Arbitration Reform for State Employees: Would require the Governor’s proposed state budget to include funding for agreements reached with state employees through collective bargaining or neutral arbitration, including wages, hours, benefits, and other employment terms.
Question 3 — Election Districts: Would clarify which constitutional standards apply to districts for the Maryland General Assembly, authorize the Maryland Supreme Court to review the state’s congressional redistricting plan, and require congressional district boundaries to follow applicable federal law.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 22–29, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
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Governor: The Governor’s seat is an open race.
Statewide Ballot Measure:
SJR 10 — Voter Identification: A proposed constitutional amendment concerning voter identification requirements.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 6–November 1, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Ohio Secretary of State — Elections -
Governor: The Governor and Lieutenant Governor seats are open.
Statewide Ballot Questions:
Constitutional Amendment 1: State constitutional amendment appearing on the November ballot.
Constitutional Amendment 2: State constitutional amendment appearing on the November ballot.
Constitutional Amendment 3: State constitutional amendment appearing on the November ballot.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 20–November 1, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Wisconsin Elections Commission -
Governor: Katie Hobbs is running for re-election.
Statewide Ballot Measures:
Proposition 128 — Voter Protection Act / Court Determinations: A proposed constitutional amendment concerning how courts determine whether initiatives and referenda comply with constitutional requirements.
Proposition 129 — Initiatives; Single Subject; Title: A proposed constitutional amendment requiring ballot initiatives to address a single subject and establishing related title requirements.
Proposition 130 — Constitutional Property Tax Exemptions: A proposed constitutional amendment concerning property-tax exemptions.
Proposition 131 — Lieutenant Governor; Joint Ticket: A proposed constitutional amendment creating the office of Lieutenant Governor and providing for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to run as a joint ticket.
Proposition 132 — Initiatives; Supermajority Vote; Requirement: A proposed constitutional amendment changing the legislative vote requirement for certain citizen initiatives.
Proposition 209 — Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act: A citizen initiative concerning protections against predatory debt collection practices.
Proposition 211 — Voters’ Right to Know Act: A citizen initiative concerning disclosure of funding and spending in political campaigns.
Proposition 308 — Tuition; Postsecondary Education: A legislative referral concerning eligibility for in-state tuition at public postsecondary institutions.
Proposition 309 — Voter Identification; Affidavit; Procedure: A legislative referral concerning voter identification and affidavit procedures.
Proposition 310 — Fire Districts; Funding; TPT Increment: A legislative referral concerning funding for fire districts.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: Begins October 7, 2026
Voter Registration Deadline: October 5, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Gubernatorial & Senate Races
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U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate race on the November ballot.
Governor: Open seat. Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.
Statewide Ballot Measures:
Proposition 1 — Housing Affordability Bonds: Authorizes $11.25 billion in state bonds for housing affordability programs, including rental housing, supportive housing, preservation of affordable housing, veterans’ mortgages, and down-payment assistance.
Proposition 2 — Rainy Day Fund: Increases the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
Proposition 3 — Schools and Health Care Funding: Extends an existing tax on high-income earners and directs revenue toward public education and health care.
Proposition 4 — Public Funding of Election Campaigns: Repeals the prohibition against public funding of election campaigns.
Proposition 5 — Recall Elections: Changes the recall election process for statewide officers.
Proposition 37 — Middle-Income Homebuyers: Creates a loan program for middle-income buyers of qualified new homes.
Proposition 38 — Immunology Medical Research: Authorizes bonds for immunology medical research.
Proposition 39 — Voter Identification: Would prohibit citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification.
Proposition 40 — One-Time Tax: Imposes a one-time tax on certain taxpayers.
Proposition 41 — State Taxes and Spending Limits: Prohibits new state taxes that exclude revenue from the state spending limit and requires audits for certain new state special taxes.
Proposition 42 — Personal Property Taxes: Prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive state taxes.
Proposition 43 — Local Government Revenue: Limits voters’ ability to raise revenues for local government services.
Proposition 44 — Community Health Clinics: Requires community health clinics to spend 90% of revenue on program services.
Proposition 45 — Environmental Review: Modifies environmental review requirements for certain projects.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Ballots Mailed: Beginning October 5, 2026
Early In-Person Voting: Begins October 24 in participating Vote Center counties
Voter Registration Deadline: October 19, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
California General Election Information -
U.S. Senate: John Hickenlooper is running for re-election.
Governor: Open seat.
Statewide Ballot Measures: Colorado voters will consider multiple statewide measures concerning:
Education funding
Conservation and sporting-goods sales taxes
Income-tax policy
Congressional redistricting
Mail-ballot voter identification
Plain-language ballot titles
The constitutional right to hunt and fish
The constitutional right to purchase and sell natural gas
Law-enforcement communication with federal immigration authorities
Penalties for fentanyl crimes
Penalties for human trafficking of a minor
Participation in school and collegiate sports
Surgery on minors in response to perceptions of sex or gender
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Check your county election office for ballot mailing, drop-box, and in-person voting information.
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Colorado Secretary of State — Elections
Colorado Ballot Measure Information -
U.S. Senate: Open seat.
Governor: J.B. Pritzker is running for re-election.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting / Grace Period: September 24–November 3, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Illinois State Board of Elections -
U.S. Senate: Ed Markey is running for re-election.
Governor: Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll are running for re-election.
Statewide Ballot Questions:
Question 1 — Public Records: Expands the state’s public records law.
Question 2 — Collective Bargaining: Addresses collective bargaining rights for CPCS employees.
Question 3 — State Primary Elections: Changes rules governing state primary elections.
Question 4 — Election Day Registration: Establishes Election Day voter registration.
Question 5 — State Revenue Limit & Rebate: Changes the state revenue limit and rebate structure.
Question 6 — Natural Resource Conservation Fund: Creates or changes funding for natural resource conservation.
Question 7 — Single-Family Homes: Addresses regulation of single-family homes.
Question 8 — Adult Recreational Use Marijuana: Prohibits the retail sale of adult recreational-use marijuana.
Question 9 — Firearms Regulation: Changes state firearms regulations.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Check the state election office for early voting dates and locations.
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Massachusetts Elections & Voting
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U.S. Senate: Open seat.
Governor: Open seat.
Statewide Ballot Question:
Constitutional Convention: Michigan voters will decide whether to convene a constitutional convention to consider changes to the state’s constitution. The question appears once every 16 years.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 24–November 1, 2026
Voter Registration Deadline by Mail/Online: October 19, 2026
Voters can register in person through Election Day.
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Michigan Elections -
U.S. Senate: Open seat.
Governor: Open race.
Statewide Constitutional Amendment:
Permanent School Fund: Would increase funding distributed to school districts from Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund without raising individual income or property taxes.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: September 18–November 3, 2026
Same-Day Registration: Available.
PLAN YOUR VOTE
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U.S. Senate: Bill Hagerty is running for re-election.
Governor: Open seat.
Statewide Constitutional Amendments:
Amendment 1 — Bail: Would expand the offenses for which a court may deny bail when the proof is evident or the presumption great, including certain serious felony offenses.
Amendment 2 — State Property Tax: Would prohibit Tennessee from enacting a state property tax.
Amendment 3 — Victims’ Rights: Would expand and strengthen constitutional protections and enforceable rights for victims of crime, including additional rights related to sentencing and an offender’s release.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 14–29, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Tennessee Secretary of State — Elections -
U.S. Senate: Open seat.
Governor: Greg Abbott is running for re-election.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 19–30, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Texas Secretary of State — Elections
Gubernatorial Races
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Governor: Kathy Hochul is running for re-election.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 24–November 1, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
New York State Election Information -
Governor: Josh Shapiro is running for re-election.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Pennsylvania does not offer traditional in-person early voting statewide.
Mail Ballot Request Deadline: October 27, 2026
Mail Ballot Return Deadline: November 3, 2026
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Pennsylvania Voting & Elections
Ballot Initiatives
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Statewide Ballot Measures:
Initiative concerning state and local taxes: A statewide initiative concerning taxation at the state and local level.
Initiative concerning parental rights in public schools: A legislative initiative addressing parents’ rights relating to their children in public schools.
Initiative concerning K–12 athletics: A legislative initiative concerning participation in athletics at K–12 schools.
WHEN TO VOTE
General Election: November 3, 2026
Ballots Mailed: By October 16, 2026
Voter Registration Deadline Online/By Mail: October 26, 2026
Same-Day Registration: Available in person through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
PLAN YOUR VOTE
Washington Secretary of State — Elections
Our communities have always shown up.
For generations, Black and Brown communities have organized, advocated, healed, and fought for safer neighborhoods.
Voting is another way we protect each other.
The people elected this year will decide on community violence intervention, public safety investments, education, healthcare, housing, and the resources our neighborhoods receive.
When we vote, we shape those decisions. Voting is violence prevention.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Voting is just one way we can show up for our communities. Help spread the word about the 2026 elections by sharing information with your friends, family, neighbors, and community.
Community Justice has created a campaign toolkit with social graphics you can download and share to encourage people to register, make a voting plan, and remind others to cast their ballots.
Join the Movement
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