Background
The United States has been regarded as one of the models for a democratic country. People are highly involved in electoral processes in the USA, as they understand their responsibility in making their country powerful and truly democratic (Li et al., 2018). At the same time, the American electoral right is also associated with certain issues and areas of concern that are closely linked to the changes that occur globally and locally.
Most Burning Issues for Voters Next Year Based on the State of the Current Electorate Right in the USA
The country is heading the big midterm elections that will be characterized by some issues. One of the primary concerns is still related to health as people have to face numerous restrictions that can persist next year and can affect election campaigns and voters’ behaviors (Pew Research Center, 2020). Many people will choose to vote by mail, while this option is criticized by many voters and politicians for being less transparent.
Parties can also face some financial constraints as Americans have to address multiple financial issues due to the global economic situation and local problems. Election campaigns are funded by donations, so parties try to raise as much as possible so that they could reach as many people as possible (Schmidt et al., 2018). The amount of donated money can be considerably lower as compared to previous years, which can affect the quality of the campaigns or, rather, their reach. Politicians may fail to use such instruments as TV due to the need for substantial investment. Hence, the focus on social media can become a solution for many. Social media have been widely employed and proved to be effective (Pew Research Center, 2020). However, they cover a limited number of age groups (excluding older voters, for instance, to a certain extent). Older Americans still rely on the information they receive from television when making their voting choices.
Another significant aspect to consider is voter identification laws that can pose some constraints for minorities. State rules regarding voter identification differ, being stricter or less strict based on local political culture (Schmidt et al., 2018). Voters must be eligible to vote and prove their right to affect the political agenda in various ways. In some cases, voters must provide IDs and take a set of actions to make sure that their votes are counted (such as coming to a specific site several days after the elections).
When it comes to minorities, this group of voters may find it difficult to meet the requirement or go through all the necessary procedures. These people may have no IDs as they may receive documents some time after the election day (Hajnal et al., 2017). They may also find it difficult to invest so much time (to vote on the election day, come after that day for verification) due to their employment patterns.
This aspect is related to the so-called cost of voting that can make many people reluctant to take part in elections. Different formulas to estimate this cost exist, but the time and money voters have to spend are major variables in this process (Li et al., 2018). As mentioned above, voters need to invest time during (and in some cases after) the election day. This may also be associated with the need to invest funds (get a day-off or lose profit (for being out of work), travel to the assigned sites, and so on).
Will the House and Senate Remain with the Democrats?
Voters’ preferences can be influenced by many factors, so it can be difficult to predict the future of the House and Senate. For instance, Americans pay much attention to economic issues, and the party’s inability to improve the financial situation in a country can lead to a change in voters’ behaviors (Pew Research Center, 2020). If Democrats are unable to solve the most burning economic problems linked to unemployment, financial issues individuals and companies face, as well as other issues, they may lose.
The health-related policies and government’s actions are also likely to have an impact on the outcomes of the upcoming elections. Americans are concerned about the COVID situation and vaccination implementation (Pew Research Center, 2020). If Democrats fail to ensure high public health standards, the Republican party may gain the majority in the House or Senate or both. As of these days, thousands of people are dissatisfied with the way vaccination is being carried out, so some people may vote for Republican candidates.
As far as voters’ current preferences are concerned, demographic factors can be influential. Young adults and adults are likely to support Democrats, while older generations (those over 40 years old) support Republicans (Pew Research Center, 2020). Younger people are concerned about environmental issues, so Democrats will have to achieve some results in this area to retain their voter’s loyalty. Therefore, the Democratic Party has to work hard to address the needs and meet the expectations of their voters.
In conclusion, the United States of America has a well-developed set of laws and regulations related to the electoral right. Although some imperfections associated with certain laws and procedures exist, people are still willing to take an active part in the political life of their country. Regarding the prospects of both parties next year, it can be difficult to estimate the chances of these political forces. At that, the ability of Democrats to address the most burning issues linked to the U.S. public health and economy will have a considerable impact on the results of the upcoming elections.
References
Hajnal, Z., Lajevardi, N., & Nielson, L. (2017). Voter identification laws and the suppression of minority votes.The Journal of Politics, 79(2), 363-379. Web.
Li, Q., Pomante, M. J., & Schraufnagel, S. (2018). Cost of voting in the American states.Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy, 17(3), 234-247. Web.
Pew Research Center. (2020). Election 2020: Voters are highly engaged, but nearly half expect to have difficulties voting. Web.
Schmidt, S. W., Shelley, M. C., & Bardes, B. A. (2018). American government and politics today (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.