By: Reagen Berra, Kamryn Schmalz, and Maria Voss
With the midterm elections coming up on November 8th, many people may wonder what the midterm elections entail and why it is important to vote in them. Midterm elections happen nearly two years into a president’s term and are focused on a number of offices, including the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. All 435 seats in the House are decided during the midterm elections, and a third of the 100 seats are decided in the Senate. Whoever controls the House or Senate controls the agenda and influences national politics which is why the midterms are so important. (U.S. Mission Italy, 2022) Voting in midterm elections can have just as big of an impact on the country as the presidential election due to which way the House and Senate lean.
We took some time to hear McKendree political science professors’ thoughts on why it is so important to vote in midterm elections. Dr. Frederking said, “Voting is always important because an election is the best mechanism we have for citizens to provide mandates to our elected representatives to pursue some policies and not pursue other policies. In this midterm election, if the Republicans take over one or more houses of Congress, then that will make it very difficult for the Democratic Party to pursue its agenda.” With two years remaining in Biden’s presidency, losing seats in the House or Senate is not an option, or Biden’s remaining policy goals will most likely fail.
We also spoke with Dr. Ann Collins, who gave an encouraging message: “Some people don’t vote during the midterm elections, but that is a mistake. Although the presidential election is not on the ballot this year, there are a lot of important offices and issues at stake right now. Your vote is your voice. You should use it every chance you have. Otherwise a fraction of people will dictate what happens in this country. People have endured violence and have died to ensure we have the freedom to vote. It’s important not to squander this opportunity to shape our communities and our country.”
This midterm election is important for many different reasons. Although voter turnout is historically lower than in general elections, midterms are just as important and can have a significant impact on the way the United States government works. According to Marilyn La Jeunesse from Teen Vogue, “In the Senate, there are 3[5] seats on the line, with 14 Democrats up for reelection. Currently, Republicans hold 50 seats, meaning Democrats will need to maintain their current number of seats, 48, plus win three more to attain an outright majority” (Jeunesse, 2022). So, this election can determine whether the Republicans take over the Senate or not. Dr. Frederking gave us his thoughts on why it is important to vote in this midterm election specifically: “This particular midterm election is even more important because there are so many Republicans running on the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen. If the Republicans win Congress next month, then they will be in position to do in 2024 what Trump (and the insurrectionist mob) wanted them to do in 2020 – ignore the popular vote and refuse to certify the election results.”
College students specifically need to ensure they are taking the time to research and get out and vote. Students’ opinions are just as important and valid as any other person who is voting. The more students that vote helps strengthen democracy and increase the likelihood that policy makers will pay attention to issues important to students, like student debt. These policy makers will also take the time to consider ways to improve our education system and find new ways to benefit students.
Midterm elections are very important and can cause a major sway when it comes to policies implemented and parties that are dominant in each part of our government system. As college students, we are able to shape our future, which starts with voting for the people who you believe will push your agenda in a positive direction. For example, student loans, Pell Grants, and work-study are all federal programs. This means your vote for congressional representatives, and ultimately the president, means you have a say in how those programs are shaped for years to come. That is why your vote matters. Use it!
Be on the lookout for more articles from our class, coming soon!
References
Jeunesse, M. L. (2022, March 11). What the midterms actually are – and why they matter. Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-midterms-are-and-why-they-matter
U.S. Mission Italy. (2022, October 13). What are midterm elections, and why are they important? U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://it.usembassy.gov/what-are-midterm-elections-and-why-are-they-important/
