October 11
This week in MORE POWER:
Make a Plan
Presidential Race
Senate Races
House Races
All the Way Down the Ballot!
Congress is on recess and Election Day is less than a month away, so we’re bringing you a special edition of MORE POWER to help you prepare for the polls!
Make a Plan
Make a plan for Election Day and make sure your loved ones have a plan too. What time will you vote? How will you get to your polling place? Who are you taking with you? And for the rest of it, 1000 MORE has you covered. With 1000 MORE, you can plan your ballot before Election Day! In the app, click on “Upcoming Elections,” enter your address to get a full preview of who and what will be on your November ballot. Make your selections ahead of time, so you have all of the answers when you’re in the voting booth. Build My Ballot, powered by Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Tool, gives you information about candidates and other policies that will be on your ballot.
Presidential Race
One of the most talked about races is the presidential race. It will be the first thing on the ballot, but don’t stop there! Make sure you vote all the way down the ballot; in some states, you even have to flip it over and complete the back side! President Joe Biden is not running for reelection, so voters will elect either Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic nominee, or former President Donald Trump, who is the Republican nominee. Additional candidates from third parties, such as the Green Party’s Jill Stein, may appear on ballots in some states.
Opinion polling ahead of the election is not an exact science; rather, polls depict a snapshot of public opinion. With a population as large and diverse as the U.S., it’s difficult to capture a snapshot that is actually representative of the entire public’s opinion. Additionally, public opinion is constantly changing. There is no definite outcome, which means that your vote is important.
Senate Races
The Senate is made up of 100 senators, and 34 Senate seats are up for election this year. Currently, Democrats control the Senate, with 47 Democratic senators and four Independent senators that caucus with Democrats. However, Republicans may gain control of the Senate after Election Day due to a few key races in states such as Montana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. U.S. Senators represent their entire state. Each state has two senators. Highly motivated to control the Senate, both parties are now investing heavily in the key races that could flip control of the chamber. While every state participates in presidential and House races, only voters with a Senate seat up for election will see Senate race on their ballots this cycle.
House Races
The House is made up of 435 representatives, and all 435 seats are up for grabs this year. So, every voter will see a House race on their ballot this year. Currently, Republicans control the House, with 220 Republican representatives to the Democrats’ 212. There are also three vacant seats. In the contest for control of the House, there are highly pivotal races in New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. However, every House race is important, so be sure to vote for the person you want casting votes on behalf of your district until the next election.
All the Way Down the Ballot!
In addition to the federal races we covered above, voters can expect to see many other items to vote on down the ballot, like governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state senators and representatives, city council members and all the way at the end, there may be ballot measures. A ballot measure is a proposal that voters decide on directly during an election. It can be about creating, changing, or repealing laws on topics like rental laws, access to abortion, or public education. Sometimes ballot measures give power to the people to approve new government spending. It’s important to vote on all the ballot measures that appear on your ballot, as these ballot measures will directly affect you and your community.
What Congress Passed
On recess.
On recess.
Nothing.
What POTUS Signed Into Law
Nothing.
