How You Can Successfully Vote in Midterm Elections
posted by Iyana Beachem | October 31, 2022 | In NewsThe time to vote in midterm elections are here, candidates are battling for powerful political positions, and the people’s vote can determine if they are qualified to lead from a local, state, or national standpoint.
“Midterm elections” are elections held in the middle of the four-year presidential terms. Most of the time, the outcome of midterm elections influences the power balance of the U.S. Congress, which can change the level of difficulty the President has in fulfilling their agenda for the remaining half of their term.
For example, President Joe Biden is a Democrat, and the U.S. Congress has split party power right now, with the House of Representatives majority Democrat, and the Senate with a slight Republican majority (50-48). With a strong Democratic support in the House, some of President Biden’s legislation proposals have been passed such as making Juneteenth a national holiday, and the $1.5 billion Inflation Reduction Act.
Let’s just say the U.S. Congress shifted to a strong Republican majority in both houses the midterm elections. Due to this, it can become more difficult for President Biden’s more liberal or democrat-led agenda and legislation to pass through Congress. Of course, it is not always simple as picking one political side over the other and both parties tend to cross-over and interact with one another in order to pass legislations.
The difficulty with midterm elections, or elections period, is how overwhelming they can be, especially for first time voters. With so much at stake, it can be easy to avoid voting in hopes of gaining some peace or normalcy.
MIDTERM FAQS
Who is up for election?
In the midterm elections, you vote for:
– All members of the House of Representatives
– One-third of the U.S. senators
– Some governors and lieutenant governors (not NC as the governor’s 4-year term lines up with presidential elections)
-Representatives to the NC General Assembly (both state senators and representatives serve 2-year terms)
-Some state-level commissioner positions
-State judgeships (4- or 8- year terms depending on level)
-Some county commissioners (counties have either 2- or 4-year terms)
-Other local and municipal positions and initiatives (depending on where you are registered, not Fayetteville city council, who are elected to 2-year terms in odd numbered years)
To see who is on your ballot go to the NC State Board of Elections, and enter your information.
What should I look for in a candidate?
No one can tell you how or who to pick your candidates, but the responsibility of voting can be intense, and picking a candidate can be hard. Typically, people pick candidates that most align with their views, but if you’re still figuring out what your views are, here are some topics to research to get you started: abortion, education, economics, healthcare, climate change, civil rights, and immigration.
Why does my vote matter?
Your vote is your voice. It’s your chance to select people to speak up for you and provides an avenue to practice your civic duty. History has proven repeatedly that there is power in numbers; however, if you’re not ready, take some time to familiarize and educate yourself on how the U.S. government works and what each candidates’ position does for you on a national or local level. If you simply don’t want to vote, encourage others to participate. Share voting information, talk about your hesitation towards voting, learn more about your community, your candidates, and their potential impact on your life.
Each of these positions reside in a specific district. The candidates on your ballot change depending on your district. You must be registered to vote in any election. Here is a resource that allows you to learn your voter status, candidates’ information, and provides a sample ballot: https://www.ballotready.org.
Photo courtesy of kgroovy
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