For all my readers from the United States, a big election is coming up! - Early voting is already open in many states. The big election is on Tuesday, November 8.
The Midterms are when we elect representatives to Congress. If Democrats keep control of Congress, we will likely see more action to combat climate change and healthcare costs, like with the Inflation Reduction Act earlier this year. If we see a real blue wave, they can take action on laws that have been blocked by Republicans, like securing abortion and gay marriage rights.
We also elect a lot of state and local government positions. Every election matters, from the state governors who certify elections and direct government efforts like the COVID response; to the school boards who decide curriculum (including whether books are banned) and the city councils who work on local infrastructure (electric buses, anyone?).
Many states also have issues that are decided directly by voters. Here in Maryland, for instance, we are voting on whether to legalize marijuana. In Michigan, Kentucky, Montana, Vermont, and California, voters will be deciding if abortion is legal.
Make a plan to vote now so that you have a say in the country’s future! Elections in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Ohio, Georgia, Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Iowa are particularly close in the polls. Yours could be the deciding vote.
Vote 411 has tools to make voting easy, including online voter registration, voting time and place options, and sample ballots to help plan who to vote for.
Use BallotReady and Ballotpedia to research the candidates on your ballot. You can find out their stances on issues, their policy experience, and their endorsements. Many activist and political organizations post Voter Guides listing their preferred candidates, usually at the state or county level. Of course, there are also candidate campaign websites, which you can usually find by web searching their name (in “quotations” or with their state/county if it’s a common name). And many local news sites also run candidate profiles, voter guides, and/or debates, especially for local races that might not be listed on the bigger websites.
Make your voting plan ASAP, remind your friends and family, and share your plans or ask questions in the comments. Thank you for taking a stake in future of your neighborhood and your nation!