Election season is upon us, and many people from coast to coast are already casting their ballots — not just for president but for Congress, the state legislature and various ballot measures.

While many are focused on the top of the ballot, some less publicized races are even more critically important to voters’ daily lives. Think of issues like school choice, abortion and taxation, among others. 

Frankly, these down-ballot races are also the ones where voters’ voices are most heard. That’s because fewer people are deciding, say, your local city proposition than who will be the next president. Down-ballot races also build the bench for the future, as many candidates in local races may run for higher office in a few years.

So, it’s important to vote your entire ballot — which means educating yourself about all the races. For the less publicized contests, this can turn into a research project. It takes time, but it’s critical to our democracy to make your vote count — particularly where it will have the most effect.

I start by figuring out what’s on my ballot and then using reliable sources like newspapers and nonpartisan sites to research the contests and the issues, particularly those I don’t know much about.

You can cut out the first step if your state mails you a ballot. For the rest, look up your registration and download your sample ballot from your state or county election board’s website. 

I print out my sample ballot, mark it up, and take it to the polls. This may sound old school, but many places won’t allow you to consult your phone or digital device while voting but will allow you to take a piece of paper. 

This year, my ballot includes contests for president, Senate, Congress, the state legislature, county officials, judgeships and assorted propositions.

I start with the races I’ve already decided. Then, I research the rest on reputable sites, such as newspapers, nonpartisan groups and the state bar association. I may also look at the candidates’ own websites to see what they’re highlighting about themselves.

My first stop is always my local newspaper and the state’s major metro dailies. Their staffs meet with and interview candidates for all sorts of races in the lead-up to the election and then make endorsements. These include candidates for federal, state, county and local office, judgeships — and school board elections, when relevant. The editorial board usually weighs in on ballot measures, too.

I don’t always agree with newspaper endorsements, but the best ones justify the rationale behind their choices. Some newspaper editorial boards will make clear whether they believe candidates are qualified or have a specific bias. Others will state that voters have more than one good choice but discuss why they’re picking one candidate over the other. That helps me decide who I can support.

Newspapers also publish voter guides with candidate responses to questionnaires that voters can compare side by side. The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Texas  and other organizations do this. Some partisan groups publish their own questionnaires and/or endorsements. If there’s a specific issue that you care strongly about, you might check how aligned organizations rate the candidates.

I also enter the candidates’ names into a search engine and look for news stories about them. Sometimes, there will be a story about a debate they held. Once, I discovered a candidate I favored had legal issues that hadn’t been apparent. Another time, I chose the lesser-known opponent of a candidate endorsed by extremists.

Some states elect judges, which can be the most significant and most time-consuming part of the ballot. Again, endorsements and news articles are a great place to go, particularly if you want to know where the candidate stands on a particular issue. I also search the state bar association for information on what other legal professionals think of the candidate. If the candidate lacks peer support, I’ll dive deeper to find out why. Perhaps they’re unqualified, overly partisan or just aren’t very good at running a courtroom.

That brings us to the ballot measures — the local items most likely to affect daily life where you live. Again, reputable news sites are a good place to begin. One challenge of propositions is the confusing way some are written. Ensure you know if a “yes” vote is actually for or against something. News media can help with this, as can groups lobbying on either side of a measure.

Early voting is underway in much of the country. Take the time to get ready and become an informed voter.

Margot Habiby is the deputy director of communications at the George W. Bush Institute. She wrote this for InsideSources.com.