This year’s midterms are going to determine the number of Democratic members in Congress. People should use their voice and cast their ballot. The midterm elections are important, in that they mark the halfway point of a president’s term. The amount of votes each candidate receives will determine the number of members in Congress pertaining to that designated political party. Without the votes for the current political party, the opposing party could take over in the amount of people they have in Congress, making  Congress primarily the other political parties’ team. 

We all have a voice, and without utilizing it, this could lead to unwanted officials in public office, incapable of doing their job, being elected.  When this happens, oppressive bills can be passed, equal representation within the government may occur less often, and aspects of the economy can be damaged. This year, midterm elections are on November 8th, 2022. Currently, President Biden has a 40% approval rating. This means that it is likely the Democrats will  lose members in Congress, giving Republicans the chance to take control. With these odds, many of the progressive bills that are in the process of creation may be opposed by Congress. 

Among these progressive policies are the  expansion of  the Affordable Care Act, raising federal minimum wage, criminal justice reforms, and working to combat climate change. 

As seen previously, the vitality of voting in the midterm elections is greater than ever. With rights at risk, and only a small group of people being able to fix these issues, it is urgent to vote, and to vote for the correct people. 

As written before, members of congress are the ones who ratify a bill before it gets passed to the President to become law. 

In New York, the race for governor is tight, with Governor Hochul and Lee Zeldin as candidates.

With elections such as this one having a massive impact on the future governing of our country, the vitality of voting is becoming more apparent. As  Marilyn La Jeunesse, a reporter for TeenVogue, finds, “Midterm elections are important because they help determine power in Congress. As stated in the Constitution, Congress is a legislative body that has the authority to make laws. As a bill only becomes law with approval from both the House and the Senate, the political party with the majority in both chambers of Congress is more likely to have their legislation passed. This is especially important when it comes to bills that impact a lot of people, like those that would protect data privacy or secure voting rights.”

When written, in early stages, bills get passed to Congress. Two thirds of Congress needs to vote to pass the bill in order for the president to sign and pass it as a law.

By getting the people we want to represent us into the Legislative Branch, we will get our voices heard and represented.

Moreover, the urgency to vote is greater than ever with recent strike downs of crucial human rights laws. 

Despite the importance of voting, there are serious gaps in Civic Participation in the United States. The 2020 U.S. Census shows that the voter turnout of the 2022 presidential election was only 66.8%. With the lack of credible resources available, it can often become difficult for someone to educate themselves  on how to vote. And due to this, making your voice heard is becoming more and more important every election. 

With oppressive laws, unfortunately, becoming more prevalent, it is imperative to keep up with the latest trends in voting. That is the most effective way to get your voice heard and to get people you want to represent you in office. Laws can only be passed if we use our rights to give rights to others. With a record high 68% voting rate in the 2020 elections, many of whom were millennials and Generation Z, the vitality is more than evident when it comes to making people’s voices heard and keeping representation within our government and within our country.

New Yorkers have several options for voting in midterm elections: in addition to voting in person on election day, early voting and mail-in voting are also available. For more information, visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/civicengagement/voting/how-to-vote.page  

For the American people, their  voice is their path to freedom. Without expressing and standing up for yourself, you will never be able to be heard, represent yourself, and others. 

If you want to find a location near you to cast your ballot, use https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/ to find the closest place in every state.

Despite the importance of voting, there are serious gaps in Civic Participation in the United States. The 2020 U.S. Census shows that the voter turnout of the 2022 presidential election was only 66.8%. With the lack of credible resources available, it can often become difficult for someone to educate themselves  on how to vote. And due to this, making your voice heard is becoming more and more important every election.