What's on the ballot

Early voting is underway for the two thousand twenty-six midterm elections.Election Day is Tuesday, November third.

Why midterms draw fewer voters

Midterm elections tend to draw millions fewer voters than presidential elections, despite being arguably more opportune moments for voters to get what they want.

“relatively small shifts in the overall vote can lead to dramatic shifts in policy”

What voting decides

Voting decides who writes the rules communities live under.At the national level, which party controls the House and Senate is at stake.

“Your vote is your voice”

Voter skepticism about both parties

A CBS News slash YouGov poll found most voters don't believe either party has a plan to make people better off.The majority believed they wouldn't be better off financially regardless of which party wins.

“I just don't trust anybody at this point enough to vote for them, Republican or Democrat”

Why your vote weighs more

In the two thousand twenty-two midterms, forty-six percent of eligible voters cast ballots, compared to sixty-five percent in the two thousand twenty-four presidential elections. The smaller the electorate, the more weight each ballot carries.

Razor-thin margins decide races

In Republican Rep.Lauren Boebert's two thousand twenty-two race, she held onto her Colorado seat by five hundred forty-six votes.

Politicians pay attention to voters

Politicians are attentive to which groups vote at high rates and which groups don't.Candidates tend to pay more attention to older voters, who are most likely to vote.

“It may be surprising to them how attentive politicians are to which groups vote at high rates and which groups don't”

Congress control and policy stakes

The president's party has lost seats in thirty-seven of the past forty-one midterm elections.Control of both chambers of Congress is in play.