Your Vote is Your Voice – Mid-Term Elections Have Started in the State of North Carolina

Contributing Writer Mildred Robertson

September 9th marked the official beginning of the 2022 mid-term elections in the state of North Carolina. That was the date the state began to distribute absentee ballots to voters who requested them. While most mid-term elections have fewer voters than presidential elections, this year may break the mold as voters ponder issues such as voting rights, a woman’s right to choose, and an unbalanced Supreme Court. Many voters are aware that their vote this November may well have a lasting effect on both them and future generations.

Voters will have to balance tabletop issues such as the soaring cost of gas and food, as well as burdensome student debt that has blocked the upward mobility of many young Americans. Add to that the seemingly burgeoning border crisis and a radical right-wing political organization that threatens the violent overthrow of the government and you have a smorgasbord of issues that voters must wade through.

All of these issues have energized voters on both sides of the political spectrum.

Voter turnout in midterm elections has a tendency to fall in the range of 40% compared to the estimated 60% who vote during presidential elections. But it appears the 2022 midterm election is poised to break that trend due to a motivated electorate on both the left and the right who are anxious to cast their ballots in 2022, and possibly change the course of history. You must make sure that your voice is among those who make these critical decisions.

While it may be a daunting task for some voters to sort through all of these issues, and the various candidates who promote them now is the time to get informed. There are several steps you can take to make sure you are a knowledgeable voter who can cast your ballot based on your best interests and beliefs.

You should first check to ensure that you are currently registered in the district and precinct in which you live. If you have moved, or have not voted recently, contact your board of elections to verify your status. In North Carolina simply go to https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/. In other states, check with your local Board of Elections. Here in North Carolina, you can also learn everything you need to know about races on the ballot, voting dates, and deadlines, You can also learn steps you must take to vote by mail, early vote, or vote on Election Day. (Go to: https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election). You will also be able to download a sample ballot to research the candidates and other issues on which you will be voting.

In North Carolina voters will decide on one U.S. Senate seat and 14 U.S. House seats, as well as several state offices such as the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. You also will be making a decision on local judges and prosecutors, sheriffs, and county commissioners.

Again, if you do not live in North Carolina, you can get this information from your local Board of Elections.

Our national discourse on all the ballot issues we face is both broad and heated. Many of us have taken the battle to social media. While debating on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram may be gratifying, it will change nothing. If you want to have an impact on the direction this country takes, YOU MUST VOTE in the November election. Your vote is your voice. Make sure it is heard!