Why is voting important? Beyond the basics of what makes your midterm election vote matter

Updated on: November 3, 2026 / 5:00 AM EST / CBS News

Millions of Americans are voting Tuesday, and more than 57 million Americans voted early, according to the University of Florida Voting Lab. All 435 seats in the House are on the ballot, and voters in 35 states will elect senators, 36 states will vote in governor's races and there are more than 150 ballot measures across 40 states. The people and policies elected will shape the future of the Iran War, AI regulation and so much more.

Brody Saner, a college student in Kansas says he believes it's his duty to vote."If there's something you're not happy with, go out and vote. Do your part to change it."

However, midterm elections tend to draw millions fewer voters than presidential, despite being "arguably more opportune moments for voters to get what they want," according to Professor Donald Green, a Columbia University political scientist who has spent three decades studying voting, "because relatively small shifts in the overall vote can lead to dramatic shifts in policy."

Here's what's at stake and why the experts say showing up matters:

"Your vote is your voice," said Kansas voter Tracy Preisser when asked…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/