- Voting is one of the most fundamental and fought over rights of American citizens.

It's important to participate in each election, both local and national, to make your voice heard.

(upbeat music) You want to be able to vote with confidence, but with so many elections to keep in mind, how do you find out which candidate is right for you?

Here are a few dos and don'ts when making your big decision.

While national elections are important, it's the local elections that will likely have the most immediate impact on your day-to-day life.

And there are usually several happening during a given election.

So be sure to look up all of the races and ballot issues that will be up for vote.

Generally a state's secretary of state office is in charge of administering elections and is a good place to start your research.

Online, you can find nonpartisan nonprofit resources that will generate an example ballot based on your zip code, and can even give you information about a candidate's background and stance on the issues.

It's important to use multiple sources when doing research, as some websites may contain information lacking in other sites.

The same goes for following news about the election.

Every news outlet may have a different spin on a story, and using multiple sources will help you make the best decision for yourself.

During an election season, voters are bombarded with political ads on TV, online, in the mail, and even just walking down the street.

While these may be the loudest voices during election season, it is unwise to use ads alone to make your decision.

These ads are produced by a candidate or their supporters to either show themselves in the best possible way or their opponent in the worst possible way.

They are purposely made to get a big reaction out of you in order to sway your vote.

This means using language and images that may be misleading or exaggerated, and will not give you the full picture of how a candidate will perform in office.

It's important to not take these ads at face value.

If you want to learn about a specific candidate, it can be good to check out their websites or social media channels.

These platforms may go into more detail about a candidate's beliefs and specific plans if they reach office.

But be sure to take what you read with a grain of salt.

Remember, these are words and images selected by the candidate and their supporters to get the biggest reaction possible from you.

It's up to you to assess how accurate these messages are.

Your vote is one of the most important tools you possess to help shape the society you live in.

Doing research on your ballot will help you vote with confidence.

(bright music)