This third of November, all of our 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and about 33 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are open to our vote. The composition of congress can strongly influence what the President can accomplish during his or her term in office.
In addition, during midterm elections, states will often add additional offices to the ballot such as contests for governorship, state representatives, and judicial posts. Likewise, local offices, too. Likewise, important state-specific measures can be on the ballot.
Midterm elections play an important role in determining the course of our democracy. Cast votes can shift or balance power. Chosing a Congressperson aligned with the President’s agenda can boost his/her support and increase his/her ability to achieve desired agendas. Conversely, choosing one who is opposed to his/her agenda can shift the power to the minority party.
There are three equally powered branches to our government: The Presidency, the Senate and the Congress. Therefore, they must collaborate and negotiate to pass legislation or else this nation comes to a screeching halt or advances like a dysfunctional ogre trampling through domestic and foreign policies, alike.
Yet, voter turnout is terrible. About half of registered voters actually vote. This apathy is the primary cause of our problems. We are doing it to ourselves. Rather than preemptively exercise a negative assumption that one’s vote does not count, believe in the highly focalized pivotal point of all representative governments–you–and exercise your vote.
Turn out to vote, or else, you sell out to the alternative: dictatorial, non-involved rule. Your choice.
Oh, and storytelling is not only the connective fiber of our national anatomy and primer of civic engagement and the facilitator of your individual vote, but also your vaccine to isolationism and fatalism.
Your vote alone is the victory, not their compilation or results. Try to respect and trust your republic—and your neighbor—to sufficiently appreciate the majority—in a clean election—who prevail to win the vote. Conversely, the majority must respect the minority if we are to interact as a healthy country and because it will swing around, again.
Now, expanding the two-party rule to a multi-party system is a topic for next time.