TFK Explains: Midterm Elections

Election Day is November 3. Here’s why the midterm elections are important, and why Americans are eager to cast their votes.

What is a midterm election?

Midterms are held almost halfway through a president’s term. They’re held to elect members of the U.S. Congress. This year, 470 seats in Congress are up for election. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are on the ballot. So are 35 of 100 Senate seats. Voters in many states will choose governors and other state officials. They might also vote on local issues.

What’s at stake?

Midterm elections decide which political party has the majority in Congress. The party with the most seats in the House or Senate has an advantage when deciding which bills to consider and pass. Republicans now control both chambers of Congress. Democrats hope to change that.

President Donald Trump is a Republican. He’s serving his second term. The midterm results will help determine how much Congress supports his plans during his term’s last two years.

How many people will vote?

Presidential elections usually see more voters than midterms do. In the 2022 midterms, voter turnout reached about 46%. In comparison, voter turnout reached about 64% in the 2024 presidential election.

What is early voting?

Election Day is November 3. In most states, people can vote before then, in person or by mail. Early voting gives voters flexibility. It also shortens lines on Election Day.

What’s the biggest issue this year?

According to polls, the biggest issue is the economy. That includes the cost of everyday items, such as food and gas. An October Pew Research Center survey found that 84% of registered voters said economic issues are “very important” to how they cast their vote. “It is the top issue among voters” of both parties, the survey authors write.

Stop and Think!

WHAT numbers do you see in this article? How do numbers help us understand elections? Which other numbers would you like to see?