3 Reasons Why Midterm Elections Are Worth Your Attention

Voter turnout during midterm elections tends to be about 15% less than that for presidential elections, a huge drop-off. That’s partly understandable. Midterms don’t resonate* with Americans as much as presidential elections because it’s harder to feel that everyone has something at stake, and midterm elections don’t usually offer the ability to cast ballots for something that will clearly effect the whole country. [*resonate is to have particular meaning or importance for someone]

Except, of course, when they do, as is the case in 2014. Americans across the country will vote for 36 senators, 36 governors and a bunch of policies, but everyone will have their eyes on who wins each race for Senate, as Republicans have a good chance of wresting control of that house of Congress from the Democrats.

Since the GOP [Republican party] already controls the House of Representatives, Republican control of the Senate would make it virtually impossible for President Obama to push any contentious issues through Congress.

Below, we’ve listed some of the bigger reasons why the midterm elections are worth keeping tabs on:

1 – Control of the Senate (Currently, there are 36 Senate seats to be decided in November 2014, 21 of those now held by members of the Democratic Party and 15 by members of the Republican Party.)

The main thing to remember here is that Republicans, depending on what poll you look at, have around a 65% chance of having more Senate seats than Democrats after Nov. 4. A 65% chance, of course, doesn’t guarantee that it will happen. But if it does, Republicans would control both houses of Congress, [giving them the ability to oppose] President Obama’s policies. President Obama would become even more of a lame duck president, unable to pass just about any legislation other than what he can do through executive actions [a practice he has used to implement  some of his controversial policies that he could not enact even with a Democrat majority in the Senate].

If that happens, Obama would still have the presidential veto, of course, but he would be forced to take time and effort to defy the Republicans on a whole new range of issues rather than focusing on his own priorities.]

The President would also probably be able to appoint far fewer justices around the nation, as judges require a simple Senate majority for approval.

Also important: More Republican senators now means that whoever is elected in November will be around for six years, including the entirety of the next president’s first term.  (See “Background” below the questions for an IB Times report on some close Senate races.)

2 – Outcome of the 36 governors’ races will demonstrate how voters currently view liberals and conservatives 

A governor’s policies, of course, mainly affect only the people in his or her state. But the outcomes of these gubernatorial races provide a good gauge of how the country feels toward each political party, and that could be somewhat indicative of what happens in future elections. This year, an estimated 21 states could go Democrat or Republican. (There are currently 29 Republican and 21 Democratic governors.)

And for a gubernatorial election with potential to resonate beyond 2014, look at the battle for governor of Wisconsin. Current Republican Gov. Scott Walker is talked about as a potential presidential candidate in 2016 or beyond, but he’s facing a challenge from Democrat Mary Burke that polls estimate is a toss up at this point.  (For a previous article on 12 important gubernatorial races, go to: studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/the-12-governors-races-you-need-to-watch-this-fall)

3 – Ballot measures: pot, abortion and the minimum wage

Most midterm elections coverage focuses on individual races or politicians, but three other topics that deserve attention are marijuana legalization, abortion issues and raising the minimum wage.

Arkansas, Alaska, Nebraska and South Dakota – all states controlled by Republicans – have ballot initiatives that would raise the minimum wage in those states and all seem to have a good shot at passing. In fact, every state initiative to increase minimum wage has passed since 2002. (For info: ballotpedia.org/Minimum_wage_on_the_ballot)

Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. will vote on whether or not to legalize marijuana. They could join Colorado and Washington on the side of legalization, making the United States home to four states (and a capital) that allow the use of recreational marijuana after Nov. 4. Floridians will also vote on whether to legalize medical marijuana, which has become a high-profile issue in the state.

Colorado and North Dakota both have initiatives up for vote that, if passed, would legally define life as beginning at conception, which would move those states to the right on abortion.

The issue has come up in Colorado, where Democrat incumbent Mark Udall has tried to portray his opponent, Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, as right-wing on abortion issues, though Gardner has edged away from supporting measures like the one Coloradans will vote on. Abortion has also become a top voter topic in Tennessee, where the law is more vague, and simply states that a new measure would allow legislators to introduce or change legislation on abortion.

See ballotpedia for: Colorado at:  ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Definition_of_%22Personhood%22_Initiative,_Amendment_67_(2014)

North Dakota at: ballotpedia.org/North_Dakota_%22Life_Begins_at_Conception%22_Amendment,_Measure_1_(2014)

Tennessee at: ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_Legislative_Powers_Regarding_Abortion,_Amendment_1_(2014)

Adapted from an Oct. 27 Mashable article. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission from mashable .com