2026 Bay Area Voter Guide Questions to Consider
2026 VOTER GUIDE
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU VOTE
A thoughtful place to begin
California and Bay Area ballots can include many measures, and the information available about them is not always clear or accessible.
Your voice and your vote matter. Voting gives you an opportunity to put your values into action, so it is worth taking time to understand how a measure could affect you, your neighbors, and your community.
As you read the fine print, talk with friends and family, and navigate campaign mailers and calls, use these questions as conversation starters. They reflect many of the same considerations UWBA uses when reviewing ballot measures.
You can consider them on your own or use them to begin a conversation with people you trust about the issues that matter to you.
Begin with your values
What are my values, and what do I stand for?
Every system reflects the values behind it. Look for the values at the center of a measure and the outcomes its supporters hope to create.
Consider what could happen if the measure passes and what could happen if it does not. How closely do those values and possible outcomes align with your own?
Consider the impact
Who could be affected if the measure passes—or if it does not?
Think about the people who may benefit and the people who may carry the costs. Could the measure benefit corporations while creating new challenges for workers or renters? Could it make life harder for neighbors with low incomes, people facing employment barriers, or households at risk of losing their housing?
Also consider whether the measure would add meaningful resources for people who often face greater barriers, including families with young children, college students, seniors, foster youth, and immigrants. Would it help more people make ends meet and live with dignity?
Look at who is behind it
Who supports or opposes the measure—and why?
The organizations and individuals supporting or opposing a measure can offer useful context about who expects to benefit and who anticipates harm.
Look beyond the names to consider who is funding the campaigns and communications for each side. Why might a particular group invest in a certain outcome? Official voter information and campaign-finance disclosures can help you understand the interests behind the messages you are seeing.
Weigh the whole measure
Does the good outweigh the bad?
No policy or ballot measure is perfect. A measure may still make meaningful progress even when it does not solve an entire problem.
Consider whether it moves an important issue forward, how significant its limitations are, and whether its overall effect brings your community closer to the outcomes you value.
A starting point, not a test
Make room for curiosity and conversation
You do not need to have every answer before you begin. Start with the questions that matter most to you, compare reliable information, and give yourself space to revisit your first impression as you learn more.