In November, the United States will host a general election allowing voters to choose who represents them on a local, state and national level. One-third of all U.S. senators and all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives will be up for re-election or removal.<\/p>\n
According to FairVote, only 40 percent of eligible voters participated in midterm elections in 2016. According to Lori Klein, associate professor of political science and public administration, the importance of the midterm election is underestimated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe entire House is elected every two years, so you\u2019ve got the chance to completely change the makeup of the House and a third of the Senate,\u201d Klein said. \u201cIf you\u2019re really upset about where your government is going, you have the chance to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both the House and Senate currently represent a Republican majority. Democrats need 24 seats in the House to gain the majority, and according to a recent study by the University of Virginia, the upcoming November elections could change that. Democrats must only defend 22 seats in the House while Republicans will be forced to fight for 41. With President Trump\u2019s approval rating hovering in the lower 40th percentile, Democrats are becoming a new \u2018soft favorite\u2019 to carry the House majority.<\/p>\n
According to Arkansas District 46 State Representative Les Eaves, the president\u2019s party typically loses congressional seats.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt stake is the second arm of government, the legislative branch. Midterm elections are seen as a referendum on the performance of the president,\u201d Eaves said.<\/p>\n
Klein echoed Eaves\u2019 statement, emphasizing that, historically, the midterm election process was used to determine the remainder of the sitting president\u2019s term.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times presidents will come in and then, at the midterm election, his opposition will gain a little strength, or in some places, a lot of strength,\u201d Klein said.<\/p>\n
Searcy Mayor David Morris spoke to the importance of participation in local midterm elections as well, noting that citizens have the easiest access to their city governments.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocal elected officials\u2019 decisions directly affect the citizens of Searcy in their daily lives,\u201d Morris said. \u201cLocal officials have a strong amount of influence over decisions that are made at the state level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris encouraged Harding students to attend city council meetings and to register to vote in Searcy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour vote is sacred. It\u2019s something that is given to you, and people have fought and died \u2026 so that you have the right to exercise your vote,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n
Eaves encouraged students to get involved on campus by joining political clubs and engaging in political conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cCollege is the perfect time to evolve your own political ideas as well as express these ideas to your classmates. You will be more knowledgeable of politics by being involved,\u201d Eaves said. \u201cVoting is one of the most fundamental rights we share in this country. Too many take it for granted because they think their vote won\u2019t make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Klein spoke to Eaves\u2019 statement that many believe their vote won\u2019t make a difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople with a great deal of power, some of those people would like you to completely check out. They want you to feel like your vote doesn\u2019t count and your voice doesn\u2019t matter because they don\u2019t want anything to change,\u201d Klein said. \u201cThis is your opportunity to express yourself politically. And you should take advantage of that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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