A Voter’s Guide: 10 Facts about Midterm Elections
Midterm elections are fast approaching. Here’s what makes midterms unique and what you can expect to see as November nears.
1. Low Turnout
Voter turnout during non-presidential election years is traditionally low. The presidential election usually brings out between 55-65% of registered voters. Midterms, however, generally see only 40% of registered voters.
This is not to say midterms are unimportant, in fact they often have serious policy consequences. However, Americans are more excited by and more likely to participate in presidential elections. This is likely due to media saturation and a perception about the importance of the position. If voters wish to participate in midterm as an informed voter, they must take the time and initiative to look into the candidates and issues themselves, whereas in a presidential contest Americans are inundated with information regarding the election.
Generally, a high midterm turnout it bad news for the President’s party.
