There are over 70,000 “nonpartisan” open seats in 2025
The majority of candidates on ballots across the country won’t have party labels next to their names
What are nonpartisan elections?
Unlike in partisan elections, where candidates are explicitly identified by their political party, in nonpartisan elections candidates are presented without party labels on the ballot.
In other words, voters can’t rely on voting based solely by the “R”s and “D”s next to candidate names. In fact, for a majority of open seats on ballot in 2025, voters will need to know the candidate names and how they align with the issues without relying on party.
That makes down ballot voter guides providers like BallotReady a critical resource in odd year elections.
Below, we outline what’s at stake in nonpartisan elections this cycle from high stakes races like the Wisconsin State Supreme Court seat to a majority of school board seats across the country.
It’s worth noting that this election structure was initially designed to reduce party machine influence and emphasize candidates’ qualifications and policy positions rather than their party allegiance. This is not always the case in practice, and endorsing organizations can still make candidate endorsements in nonpartisan races.
For most states with elections this year, over 90% of the open seats are nonpartisan
Illinois leads the way with over 10,000 open nonpartisan seats on the ballot
90% of school board seats and nearly 80% of city council races are nonpartisan
While 90% of open school board seats and nearly 80% of city council seats are designated as nonpartisan, it may surprise some that many high-profile mayoral races will also appear as nonpartisan on the ballot.
Major cities with nonpartisan mayoral elections this year include: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Fort Worth, Miami, Minneapolis, Omaha, San Antonio, and Seattle.
Tired of partisan politics? Look down the ballot.
At the state level, the vast majority of nonpartisan elections are judicial offices, with the exception of Nebraska's unicameral legislature, the only officially nonpartisan state legislature in the country.
At the local level, nonpartisan elections are most common for city councils, school boards, and special districts, where governance tends to focus on practical community needs rather than ideological positions.
Whether a position is partisan or nonpartisan is primarily defined by state law, though some states delegate this authority to local jurisdictions, allowing cities, counties, or school districts to determine their own electoral structure.
Benefits and challenges of nonpartisan elections
Nonpartisan elections aim to foster issue-focused campaigns where candidates must articulate specific policy positions rather than simply relying on better known party platforms. Without party cues dominating the discourse, these elections might experience reduced polarization, becoming less aligned with national political divisions and more centered on local concerns.
Proponents believe this structure could encourage voters to evaluate candidates based on qualifications and character rather than partisan loyalty, potentially improving the quality of elected officials.
However, researchers have also found challenges associated with nonpartisan elections:
Lower voter participation: Research suggests that nonpartisan elections typically see lower turnout. According to the Clark County Board of Freeholders, voter participation averages 10 percent less in nonpartisan elections compared to partisan races. In Michigan's 2002 general election, 5.3 million votes were cast in a partisan race for Wayne State University Board of Governors, while only 4.4 million votes were cast in a nonpartisan race for the state's Supreme Court.
Information barriers: Without party labels as shortcuts, voters must invest more time researching candidates, potentially disadvantaging voters with limited time or resources.
Name recognition advantage: Incumbents, celebrities, and well-funded candidates often benefit disproportionately when party cues are absent.
Hidden partisanship: While formally nonpartisan, many local elections still involve unofficial party support and partisan dynamics behind the scenes.
Conclusion
While the partisan divide dominates discourse at the federal level, a significant number of elected officials in local government aren’t tied to party structure. The goals of their positions within government are supposed to be driven by partisanship but rather good governance on behalf of their communities.
That makes it even more critical that voters have information on these candidates prior to their upcoming elections so they can review the names, policies, endorsement and more.
At BallotReady, we gather the needed research and offer a platform to our partners to help reach voters in every state before Election Day. And just like the positions themselves, we are 100% nonpartisan.