Midterm Elections 2022

Are you ready to vote? This toolkit will help you prepare for the midterms.

Answer these questions and we will curate a personalized list of stories, explainers and graphics that will get you the information you need before heading to the ballot box on Nov. 8. This page will continue to update with new stories and resources.

Why the midterms matter

Want to know why the midterms are important?

Every seat in the House of Representatives and 34 seats in the Senate are up for grabs, along with 36 governors and thousands of state legislators, plus even more local positions.

Curious which legislation will be considered if Democrats remain in control — or if Republicans take over?

The outcome of these contests will drastically reshape the next two years before President Biden potentially runs for reelection. Under split or all-Republican control, his administration could spend the next two years defending itself from investigations — and maybe even impeachment.
On your ballot

Want to know which congressional candidates are on your ballot?

The candidates on your ballot depend on the district in which you’re registered to vote. And that district may be different than during the last election. That’s because every 10 years, the federal government collects population data and states redraw the lines of every House district to ensure it contains roughly the same number of people. That process is called redistricting.

Want to know the top issues in state ballot measures this year?

In addition to hundreds of congressional and state executive contests, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on state policy through ballot measures.

Want to know how many election deniers are running in your state?

According to a Washington Post analysis, 291 Republican candidates who have questioned the outcome of the 2020 election will run for offices in 48 states.

Want to know why secretaries of state matter for 2024?

In many states, the secretary of state — a job that typically flies under the radar in terms of elected offices — is the chief elections official. This year, several election deniers are running for this key post in swing states, meaning they will have significant authority over the 2024 presidential election.

Want to know how to read midterm election polls?

Even imprecise polls can provide useful information about how and why voters are making their decisions this fall.
Voting

Want to know how long you have to register to vote?

Not sure if you’re registered? Check your status.

Want to avoid common pitfalls as you fill out your ballot?

Don’t be the victim of bad ballot design — it could mean checking the wrong box and having your vote be discarded or counted for the wrong candidate. There are some pretty common pitfalls that trip up voters who think they’re doing things properly.

Want to know how to track your ballot like a UPS package?

More than a quarter of all Americans have the technology to track their ballots in part because of investments made for mail-in voting during the pandemic.

Want to know how ranked-choice voting works?

In Maine and Alaska, voters choose multiple candidates instead of just one. They rank their preferred candidates in order of first, second and third choice, and on and on. The aim is to produce a winner that a majority of the electorate actually supports, rather than a politician who just rallied his or her base.
Misinformation

Want help debunking false claims made by friends and family?

We’ve all been there: working to convince family or friends that information they believe in and pass on might not be totally accurate. Here’s how to persuade them, gently, to check out other sources.

Want to know why election fraud is rare?

The decentralized system of American elections — where elections are run by more than 8,000 local governments and almost 90 percent of Americans vote on paper ballots, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission — makes it impossible to steal a nationwide election through voter fraud.

The full toolkit

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