What Are the Off-Year U.S. Elections?
Every November, Americans see political headlines: debates, campaign ads, and results nights filled with celebration or disappointment. Most people know about presidential elections, which happen every four years, or midterm elections, which occur halfway between them. But tucked in between those big events are the off-year elections—important political contests that take place in odd-numbered years when no federal races for president or Congress are on the ballot.
Though they receive less attention, off-year elections are essential to how American democracy functions. They decide who governs at the state and local levels, shape public policy, and often reveal early signals about where the country’s political winds are blowing. The 2025 off-year elections, for example, produced surprising results across cities and states, reminding everyone that local politics can have national consequences.
Understanding the Election Calendar
The United States runs elections on a repeating two-year rhythm:
Even-numbered years host the federal elections—the ones that fill seats in Congress and, every four years, choose the president.
Odd-numbered years, meanwhile, are “off years.” They feature mostly state and local elections—for governors, mayors, state legislators, judges, school boards, and ballot initiatives.
There’s nothing “off” about them except that the national spotlight is dimmer. Yet, because the races are smaller and turnout lower, the results often depend heavily on motivated voters and grassroots organizations.
What Gets Decided in an Off-Year Election?
1. Gubernatorial Races
A handful of states—Virginia, New Jersey, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi—hold their governor’s elections in odd-numbered years. These states’ constitutions or historical quirks separate them from the federal cycle. As a result, their outcomes are watched as barometers of national sentiment.
2. State Legislatures
Some of those same states also elect their state legislators in odd years. For instance, Virginia and New Jersey voters regularly choose all or part of their state assemblies or senates during off years.
3. City and County Offices
Many of America’s most powerful mayors—like those of New York City, Houston, and Boston—are elected in off-year cycles. Local offices, such as city councils, county executives, district attorneys, and school board members, often appear on the ballot too.
4. Ballot Measures
Off-year ballots frequently include referenda—voter-initiated proposals or amendments on topics like taxes, environmental regulation, and civil rights. Because turnout is smaller, these measures can pass or fail based on a relatively tiny share of the electorate.
5. Special Elections
Vacancies can occur at any level of government. Off-year ballots sometimes include special elections to fill seats in Congress, state legislatures, or local governments.
Why Do Off-Year Elections Matter?
Local Decisions, Big Impact
Local governments decide much of what touches daily life—schools, housing, transportation, policing, and local taxes. Off-year elections determine who sets those policies. When fewer people vote, the influence of dedicated community groups, activists, and organized voters grows dramatically.
Political Forecasting
Political strategists often treat off-year results as weather reports for the next major election. For example, if one party overperforms in an off-year, analysts may predict that it will carry momentum into the next midterm or presidential race.
Policy Experimentation
With less national scrutiny, states and cities sometimes experiment with policies that later spread nationwide—on issues like marijuana legalization, minimum wage increases, or election reform.
The 2025 Off-Year Elections: A Case Study
The November 4, 2025 elections offered a vivid example of why off-year contests deserve attention.
Across the country, voters made choices that reflected both local priorities and national mood.
Highlights from 2025:
Democratic Momentum: Analysts described 2025 as a strong year for Democrats, who won several closely watched races in major cities and state legislatures. Observers saw this as an early test of voter enthusiasm heading into the 2026 midterms.
New York City: Zohran Mamdani, a progressive candidate and state assembly member, won the mayoralty—an upset victory that energized the left wing of the Democratic Party. The result underscored how local elections can propel new voices onto the national stage.
Boston: Mayor Michelle Wu easily secured re-election, cementing her role as one of the country’s most visible municipal leaders.
Election Law Changes: In a notable development, New York’s highest court upheld a law moving most local elections to even-numbered years, aligning them with higher-turnout cycles. Supporters said this would make local politics more representative; critics warned it could drown out local issues beneath national noise.
Governance Debates: Around the country, voters considered ballot measures on housing affordability, police oversight, and term limits—issues that rarely make national headlines but directly affect millions of people.
Taken together, the 2025 results showed that even in an “off year,” politics never truly pauses. They also reminded analysts that local elections can challenge assumptions about national political trends.
Voter Turnout and Engagement
Historically, turnout in off-year elections hovers far below presidential levels. While around 60–70 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in a presidential year, only 20–30 percent typically do in off-years.
That gap has major consequences. With fewer votes cast, the outcome often reflects the most motivated groups—unions, religious organizations, or local advocacy coalitions—rather than the broader population.
Many reformers argue that aligning local elections with national cycles (as New York is now doing) could increase participation and make results more representative. Others counter that doing so would bury local issues under the noise of federal campaigns. Both sides agree that civic education and community outreach are key to closing the turnout gap.
Off-Years as Civics Lessons
For those learning about politics, off-year elections offer an excellent entry point. Because the races are smaller and more accessible, voters can see democracy at work up close:
Campaigning is personal. Candidates often knock on doors themselves, host town halls, or meet residents at neighborhood events.
Media coverage is local. Without the 24-hour national spotlight, voters rely on community newspapers, debates, and direct engagement.
The impact is immediate. A new school board majority or a revised city budget can change how a community functions within months.
In other words, off-year elections remind citizens that democracy doesn’t just happen every four years—it happens every day, block by block.
Looking Ahead: What to Watch
After the 2025 contests, political attention turns toward the 2026 midterms, when all House seats, a third of the Senate, and dozens of governorships will be up for grabs. But the lessons from 2025 carry forward: turnout patterns, emerging leaders, and policy debates tested in off-year races will shape those outcomes.
At the same time, structural reforms—like synchronizing local and national election calendars—may reshape future off-years entirely. Whether this leads to higher engagement or simply more crowded ballots will be a key question for democracy scholars and voters alike.
The Takeaway
Off-year U.S. elections might lack the glamour of presidential races, but they are the heartbeat of local democracy. They decide who governs our cities and states, set policies that touch everyday life, and offer a preview of political energy across the nation.
The 2025 elections proved that even without the presidency on the line, voters can make choices that echo nationally. For beginners learning about politics, following these off-year contests offers a practical, ground-level education in how American democracy works—and a reminder that participation always matters, no matter the year.