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Election Information Center
The 2022 midterms are our chance to strengthen Democracy even more in an effort to give voters more control. Vote by November 8th today:
Get the Information You Need:
This year voting will be more important than ever. By voting, we citizens participate in the democratic process. Voting for leaders who you believe would represent you and your beliefs best is key to our Democracy.
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Find a Voting Location
If you're planning on voting but struggling to find a polling station near you, use this easy-to-navigate poll locator. Just type in your location, and it will automatically find the stations closest to you.
We all have a part to play in upholding democracy, so make sure you take the time to use your right to vote.
Who and what is on your Ballot?
Use Ballotpedia's Sample Ballot tool to see what you're voting for. Midterm elections typically include your House representatives, propositions, and other local ballot measures.
36 governor, 34 senator, and all representative positions will be on the ballot in 2022.
Pre-Register to Vote
Gen-z will inevitably play an important role in all upcoming elections, especially 2024. To ensure that our generation is doing our part in upholding and electing candidates we believe best represent our interests, we should pre-register to vote.
While age ranges may vary from state to state, this link provides you with all the necessary information to aid you in the registration process.
Request Absentee Ballot
For college students who may not be studying in the state they grew up in but want to participate in local elections, it's essential that you fill out an absentee ballot request form.
This is a request form through which you can get help in easily receiving your absentee ballot, and also read the rules for absentee ballots by state.
A vote for people, is a vote for policy.
This section talks about policy and top issues facing voters this election. Each Policy Brief provides additional context as well as policy analysis from our top policy teams.
Criminal, Medical, or Recreational? Drug Legalization in the United States
Complex and Controversial: An Overview of American Abortion Policy
- After the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson, many voters are looking for a candidate that will support their position on this incredibly divisive issue.
- This policy brief outlines the evolution of U.S. abortion policy and the debates surrounding this polarizing topic in the present day.
Right to Privacy vs. Right to Life: the Fight over Abortion Laws
A Big Step Backwards
- As Florida implements the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, many states have seen LGBTQ+ rights placed on the table as a major topic of discussion for both legislators and voters.
- This policy brief examines one of the most contentious issues in politics today, focusing on the most recent developments in Florida.
I Plead the Second: Gun Rights Legislation in the US
- After horrific incidents in Uvalde, Buffalo, and more, gun control is a major issue on the ballot for many Americans, polarizing voters across the country.
- From universal background checks to age limit increases, this policy brief addresses the constitutional debate over gun rights and recent legislation proposed to mitigate gun violence.
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Getting Involved
Civic engagement is individual or collective action to identify, address, and solve issues in the community. This includes a range of different activities like voter registration and online activism through social media, and can encompass both political and non-political activities.
Participating in the electoral process
There are many ways to participate in the electoral process, such as making the electoral process more effective or influencing other people’s votes or decisions. This can include registering to vote, eliminating or minimizing barriers to participation including structural obstacles or cynicism through campaigning, and sending letters or emails to local/state representatives.
Volunteering for campaigns/local offices
One of the ways you can be active in advocacy or political work is volunteering for campaigns, local offices, or political organizations that support a cause you care about. By volunteering, you can get hands-on experience in working with advocates and making policy decisions for a particular cause.
Getting involved with student government
College campuses are great places to start voicing your opinions and building solutions as a team. It is also an opportunity to explore how you can help enhance student learning experiences, school participation, and other aspects of the school, as well as beyond into the local, state, national, and even global community in collaboration with other student governments and education stakeholders.
Starting/participating in clubs
Civic engagement can be organized on a smaller scale in a school or local context and still generate social impact. Clubs and societies can cover a wide range of topics including environmental activism, public discourse, and domestic violence. After defining a club’s purpose and goals, the club can hold meetings, assign roles and responsibilities, plan events, or contribute to the larger community in any other creative ways.
Online/physical activism
Internet activism includes using social media to express your thoughts and call for action, sending emails to key stakeholders, or even creating a podcast to spread awareness and educate the public. You can also be an activist in the physical space by leading or participating in demonstrations and protests, boycotting businesses engaging in exploitative practices, joining labor strikes in support of workers, and writing letters to pressure “public officials, corporations, and other power-holders”.
Being on the local education board
If you see any specific problems in your community that you want to address and fix, becoming a member of the school board in your district may be a good opportunity. A school district is governed by a school board, and these members represent their community and try to meet the community’s educational needs. School/education board members are elected by their community and have responsibilities like improving student achievement and opportunities.
Our Election Partners
Promoting voter engagement through VotingSmarter's web and mobile alignment applications.
Enabling voter education for over 100,000 users with ActiVote by co-posting educational policy content embedded within their application.
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© 2023 by the Institute for Youth in Policy.
FEIN: 85-3339422 | SOS/FTBN: 4750142
