If your American do you plan to vote in the midterms?

[Anonymous]

I am predicting record turnout and a red tsunami consider the compete incompetence the Biden administration has displayed in the last 2 years.

Yes

No

Undecided

Other

[nightdrot]

Well, leaving aside the assessment of Mr. Biden - although I am no fan - yes, I do plan to vote in the mid-term elections. As I have voted in every election - Federal, state and local levels - since I turned 18 years of age way back in 1981. I have not missed one.

The point being that, yes, voting gives an individual an opportunity to, in effect, express their opinions on the various issues and political leaders with which the nation is dealing. However, what voting really is about is not just the right to vote, but the informal civic obligation to vote. To be part of, and have a say in, one's community and country.

That said, American elections generally have, by Western standards - and it is well to recall that some Western countries make voting a legal requirement, so it is not a completely valid comparison - generally low voter turnouts. This, ironically, in its' way and to some extent, being a sign of civic health. Which is to say that the impact of politics on the life of the individual, day to day, is so modest, that said individual feels no real compulsion to vote.

Indeed, it is well to recall that voter turnout tends to surge in those places and times where there is upheaval and the political life of the state is so drastic that the life of the individual and his family and community is directly, immediately and adversely impact. See also the elections prior to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist Worker's (Nazi) Party in Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s as a grim and vivid historical example. See also the turnouts in the elections of a number of Third World countries.

The point being that the United States is fortunate in that, even in the worst times, the state and the law touches so lightly and infrequently on the life of the individual, that the individual sees no particular interest in voting. To be sure, there is a rather sad lack of civic commitment in that attitude, but in a society as highly individualistic as the USA, it is perhaps not surprising.

Thus why, by global and historical standards, American elections tend to have comparatively low voter turnouts. Of course, then Americans grouse and complain about their government and their politicians, so there is a bit of whininess and self-pity in American political culture that is immature and unattractive. However, overall, better a culture of tiresome whinny self-pity than a politics in which life and death hang in the balance.

As to the mid-term elections, based on the polling data there will be Republican gains. That is pretty much the historical norm. The party in the White House tends to lose seats in Congress in mid-term elections, even when the President is wildly popular. (See also, as a vivid historical example, the 1986 mid-term elections. Mr. Reagan had an eye bulging 71% job approval rating and yet the GOP lost seats - and control of the Senate - in both Houses of Congress.)

Turnouts in mid-term elections tend not to be great. The absence of a singular figure like the President at the top of the ballot means that there is no single focal point for a largely apolitical population to focus on. Hence, lower turnouts.

So, likely, given the times, turnouts might be somewhat elevated, but from on average not exactly high levels. Also, the GOP will make gains and likely re-take both Houses of Congress, though not by margins wide enough to make a difference. Mr. Biden will still be able to enforce his vetoes and thus the more things change, the more stalemate will prevail.

Such is life in politics. Take it from someone who has worked in politics since the late 1980s, progress is generally measures in inches, not miles. So it goes. The mature citizen is actually grateful for that as when, in politics, there is upheaval, misery and even tyranny sometimes follow. See again, 1930s Germany as Exhibit A.

[TroyDT2]

I will be voting on the Propositions and local ordinances. For partisan offices, because California's top-two primary system eliminates write-ins and third party candidates, I will be voting in very few. I will hold my nose and vote for Dahle for governor who is at least good on 2A and wants lower taxes - and because Newsom is a catastrophe, but he will still probably win by 20% because the state is so far gone is Leftist Lalaland.

[NewsReader]

I don't know about a red tsunami, but I will vote red

[BeMuse]

Yep, I always vote. I've had my ballot for over a month already. I'll probably finish filling it in within the next day or so.

[BJP21]

An I hope those of you who are of age will to. There has been low young voter turn out especially during midterm elections.
We need to get these greedy corporate driven politicians out regardless of party affiliation.

[BarryLiverstone]

Yes it’s a privilege to vote

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Nope.