In early November, American voters will go to the polls to choose the composition of the next United States Congress.
Analysts have predicted that the election results would ruffle feathers in a political arena characterized by growing divisiveness and polarization, setting the stage for the remainder of Joe Biden’s first term as president.
In addition to the US Senate and House of Representatives, there will be several municipal and statewide elections on November 8.
The midterms have historically been negative for the party in power. However, a Republican win is not sure due to Biden’s string of legislative triumphs and the support of reproductive rights from left voters.
In this article, Al Jazeera examines the electoral process and the issues at stake:
Exactly what are the midterms?
Two years into a president’s four-year tenure in office, midterms occur halfway through the president’s presidency.
Usually, roughly a third of the 100 Senate and 435 House seats are open for election in the United States. Elections will also be held for the governor, state legislature, and municipal councils/school boards.
Is there any estimate of the number of open congressional and Senate seats?
In addition to electing 35 senators, all 435 members in the House of Representatives will be up for grabs in November.
When it comes to the House and the Senate, how do seats get assigned?
Two Senate seats are guaranteed to every state, no matter how large or small its population, while House members are assigned to states according to their populations.
The most populated state, California, has 52 representatives in the House, while the least populated, Wyoming, has only one. But there are two senators representing each state.
When is the election date?
Midterm elections are scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2018. For the most part, major elections in the United States are conducted on the 1st Tuesday of November, except when the first Tuesday of the month is the first day of the month. In such a situation, the election would be held on November 8, a week later. The numerous election cycles in the United States beg the question, “why?”
The primary cause is the short duration of a House term (2 years).
Given that senators serve for six years, every two years, regardless of whether it’s a presidential or midterm election year, 33 to 34 senatorial seats will be up for grabs.
Which party has the majority in Congress, and what does it mean?
With Biden in the Oval Office, the Democrats can rule with only a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate.
To have a measure enacted in the United States, it must be approved by both houses of Congress.
The Senate’s duties include legislation, approving formal treaties, and confirming the president’s judicial and cabinet candidates.
Will Vice President Biden’s name be included on the ballot?
The president of the United States serves for four years and is not up for election during the two years between presidential administrations. Even while Biden’s name won’t appear on any ballots, the triumphs or failures of his administration may still influence the outcome.
Is it possible that the Democrats might win an even greater majority?
If the Democrats successfully pick up enough seats to secure a larger majority in Congress, they will be able to push through more progressive legislation. Abramowitz, though, argued that the likelihood of such happening is low.
What happens if the company splits?
The Democratic agenda has been significantly limited despite holding narrow majorities in both houses of Congress. If the legislature were to be divided, the Republican Party could effectively kill any bill brought before it.
Abramowitz said that although Republicans could stop everything Biden wanted, they would be unable to accomplish anything on their schedule.