Every two years, Americans are asked to make decisions that shape their taxes, schools, roads, courts and rights, and yet roughly four in ten eligible voters, sometimes more, sit out the ones that fall between presidential races. So what do midterm elections decide? More than most people realize, and often closer to home than the presidency does.
Quick answer: Midterm elections, held halfway through a president’s four-year term, decide all 435 U.S. House seats, about one-third of the Senate, most governorships, nearly all state legislative seats in many states, and thousands of local offices and ballot measures. The presidency is not on the ballot, but the people elected shape what any president can actually do. Turnout is lower than in presidential years, which means each vote counts for a larger share of the result.
This guide is the hub for the Civic Foundations section of America In Purple. It walks through what is on a midterm ballot, who holds which powers, why turnout drops, and how to find your own ballot. It makes no predictions and tells you nothing about how to vote. The goal is simpler: help you see the machinery clearly, so you can decide for yourself.
What Is a Midterm Election?
A midterm election is a general election held in the middle of a president’s four-year term. The presidency is not on the ballot, but a great deal else is. In 2026, the midterms fall on Tuesday, November 3.
The schedule comes from the Constitution and from state law. House members serve two-year terms, so every House seat is up every cycle. Senators serve six-year terms, staggered so that roughly one-third are up every two years. Governors typically serve four-year terms, with timing set by each state.
That staggering was deliberate. The founders wanted the House to stay close to the voters, the Senate to be steadier, and the system as a whole to change gradually rather than all at once. For more on how these pieces fit together, see our plain-language guide to how the US government works.
The Short List: What Is on the Ballot
Not every voter sees the same ballot. Where you live decides which races you get. Here is the general picture of what may appear in 2026:
| Office or measure | Typical term | On the ballot in a midterm? |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. House of Representatives | 2 years | Yes, all 435 seats |
| U.S. Senate | 6 years | About one-third of seats |
| Governor | Usually 4 years | Most states, but not all |
| Other statewide offices (attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer) | Usually 4 years | Varies by state; some are elected, some appointed |
| State legislatures | 2 or 4 years | Nearly all states have at least some seats up |
| Local offices (county, city, school board, judges, sheriffs) | Varies | Depends on your community |
| Ballot measures | One-time votes | In many states, yes |
The key phrase is “varies by state.” American elections are run by states and counties, not by one national office. That is part of federalism, the way state and federal power are divided, and it explains why your friend in another state may be voting on a completely different set of things.
Congress: The House and the Senate
Congress writes federal law. The House and the Senate must both pass a bill in identical form before it can go to the president. That means the party or coalition that controls each chamber shapes what even reaches the president’s desk.
The House: All 435 Seats
Every House member represents a district, a geographic area with roughly the same number of people. Because all seats are up every two years, the House can swing quickly when public mood changes. The House also has some unique powers: spending bills traditionally begin there, and it holds the power to impeach federal officials.
Who draws the district lines matters a great deal for outcomes. We cover how this works, and why both major parties have been accused of misusing it, in our guide to gerrymandering and how district lines pick voters.
The Senate: About One-Third of Seats
Each state has two senators regardless of population, so Wyoming and California have the same Senate representation. In a midterm, the Senate seats up are the ones whose six-year terms expire that year, so some states have a Senate race and others do not. The Senate confirms federal judges, cabinet members and other top officials, and it votes on treaties. It also has its own rules, such as the filibuster, which is fought over for good reasons on both sides.
Why Control of Congress Matters
Control of each chamber decides who chairs committees, which bills get a vote, and which investigations get launched. It also shapes how much of a president’s agenda can move forward. When one party controls the White House and the other controls a chamber of Congress, that is often called divided government. When one party holds everything, that is unified government. Each has trade-offs, and which one you prefer is a values question, not a factual one.
If you want to see how bills actually move, read how a bill becomes a law and how Congress works, from committees to leadership to real power. The federal budget is one of Congress’s biggest jobs, and we plan to explain how the federal budget process works in a future guide.
The president proposes, but Congress holds the purse, and the purse is filled by whoever wins in November.
Governors and Statewide Offices
Most states elect a governor in a midterm year. Governors run the executive branch of state government, sign or veto state laws, propose budgets, and often manage emergencies like storms and wildfires. In most states they also appoint many officials and judges.
Many states also elect other statewide officials. Common examples include:
- Attorney general: the state’s chief legal officer, who can bring or defend lawsuits on behalf of the state.
- Secretary of state: in many states, the official in charge of elections and business records.
- Treasurer or comptroller: who manages state money.
- Superintendent of schools or education commissioner: in some states, an elected position.
Whether each of these jobs is elected or appointed depends on the state. Check your own state’s official election website to see which are on your ballot.
Why does this matter to everyday life? Because states, not Washington, do much of the work Americans notice most: running public schools, licensing professions, maintaining highways, setting criminal codes, and administering programs like Medicaid and unemployment insurance, often with federal money and federal rules attached. Our guide to separation of powers with real examples shows how the executive, legislative and judicial branches check one another at both the state and federal level.
State Legislatures: Where Many Laws Begin
Every state except Nebraska has a two-chamber legislature, usually a house and a senate. Nebraska has a single chamber. In a midterm year, nearly all states have at least some legislative seats on the ballot.
State legislatures write the laws that shape much of daily life: criminal penalties, school funding formulas, speed limits, professional licensing, how local governments can raise money, and how elections themselves are run. The U.S. Constitution leaves most of these matters to the states.
Redistricting and the Census
State legislators are also deeply involved in drawing district lines, for Congress and for the legislature itself, in many states. Some states use independent or bipartisan commissions instead. Because the Constitution calls for a count of the population every ten years, lines are typically redrawn after each census. Whoever controls the process has real influence over who gets elected for the following decade.
Why Legislative Races Fly Under the Radar
State legislative races get far less news coverage than a Senate or governor’s race, and candidates are often unfamiliar. Yet a single state legislator represents far fewer people than a member of Congress, so each vote can carry more weight. Incentives matter here too: with less media attention, local interest groups, donors and party organizations often have an outsized role. We explore that dynamic in who has power in America and how incentives work.
Local Races: The Closest Government to You
Down the ballot, local offices often touch your life most directly. Depending on where you live, you might vote for:
- Mayor and city council
- County commissioners or supervisors
- School board members
- Sheriff, county clerk, assessor, or coroner
- District attorney or local prosecutor
- Judges at the local or state level
- Special district boards, such as water, fire, or transit authorities
These officials decide things like how many police officers a town employs, what the property tax rate looks like, which roads get repaved, and what is taught or funded in local schools. For an overview, see what a city council does and what a school board does. We also plan to explain what a county government does, including sheriffs, clerks and budgets, and what a district attorney does and how charging power works.
Local taxes are a good example of how much power sits close to home. Property tax rates, sales tax add-ons and local budgets are set by elected boards and councils, with limits set by state law. Our guide on how local taxes are decided walks through the process.
Ballot Measures: Voting on Laws Directly
In many states, voters can decide questions directly. These might be proposed constitutional amendments, bond measures that authorize borrowing for schools or infrastructure, or new laws put forward by citizens through petition. Rules vary widely: some states allow citizen-initiated measures, some only allow measures placed on the ballot by the legislature, and some allow neither.
Supporters of ballot measures argue they let citizens act when legislators will not. Critics argue that complicated policy can be hard to settle with a yes-or-no question, and that well-funded campaigns can shape the outcome. Both concerns are worth taking seriously. Our explainer on ballot initiatives and how citizens make laws goes deeper, and the broader question of direct versus representative government appears in republic vs. democracy.
What Midterms Do Not Decide
It helps to be clear about limits. A midterm election does not:
- Choose or remove the president. The president serves a fixed four-year term unless removed through the constitutional process.
- Directly pick federal judges. Judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, so Senate results can matter indirectly.
- Change the Constitution by itself. Amendments require supermajorities in Congress and ratification by states.
The Supreme Court also stands apart from the ballot box. Its justices are appointed for life, which is one reason it plays a unique role. See what the Supreme Court does and what the Constitution says, and what it does not for context.
Nobody wins every argument in a midterm, but the winners decide who gets to keep making the arguments.
Why Turnout Is Different From Presidential Years
Turnout in midterm elections is typically lower than in presidential years. Commonly cited ranges put midterm turnout among eligible voters somewhere around the mid-forties to low fifties as a percentage, versus roughly the mid-fifties to high sixties for presidential years. These are approximate, and the exact numbers change from cycle to cycle, so check official sources such as the U.S. Election Assistance Commission or the Census Bureau for specifics.
Why the gap? Researchers and commentators point to several overlapping reasons:
- Visibility. The presidential race dominates news coverage, advertising and conversation. Midterm races are scattered across hundreds of districts and states, so there is no single national story.
- Information cost. Voters often know the presidential candidates well. Down-ballot candidates may be unknown, and researching them takes time.
- Mobilization. Campaigns, parties and organizations spend much more to turn out voters in presidential years.
- Perceived stakes. Many people feel the presidency is where the action is, even though Congress, statehouses and local governments make large decisions too.
- Habit. Voting is partly a habit. People who vote only when the presidency is on the ballot may not have the midterm routine.
The Age and Participation Gap
Midterm electorates tend to skew older than presidential ones. Older Americans consistently vote at higher rates than younger ones in every kind of election, and the gap often widens in midterms. This is one reason policy questions that matter to different age groups can get different levels of attention.
Why Low Turnout Raises the Stakes for Each Vote
When fewer people vote, each ballot represents a larger slice of the final result. Local and primary elections can be decided by very small numbers. Our guide to primary elections, including open and closed primaries and low turnout explains why the choices on a general election ballot are often narrowed down earlier by a much smaller group of voters.
Is low turnout a problem? Reasonable people disagree. Some argue it reflects satisfaction or distrust, and that forced participation would not improve decisions. Others argue that low turnout makes government less representative, since voters and non-voters can differ in age, income and priorities. The data on who votes is a fact; what to make of it is a values question.
Do Midterms Follow a Pattern?
You may have heard that the president’s party tends to lose ground in midterms. Historically, that has been true in most cycles for the House, and political scientists have studied why. Common explanations include voter backlash, “thermostatic” preferences (voters seeking balance when one party holds the White House), and differences in enthusiasm between the parties.
But patterns are not laws. There are exceptions, the size of shifts varies a lot, and structural factors like district lines and which Senate seats happen to be up can matter as much as national mood. This guide does not predict what will happen in 2026. The point is that midterms are widely seen as a kind of referendum on the current direction, and that a wide range of outcomes is always possible.
How to Find Your Own Ballot
Finding out what is on your ballot takes a few minutes. Here is a practical sequence:
- Check your registration. Your state’s official election website, typically run by the secretary of state or a state elections division, usually has a lookup tool. Vote.gov, a federal government site, can point you to your state’s official page.
- Look up your sample ballot. Many states and counties publish a sample ballot once candidates are certified. It shows every race and measure for your address.
- Confirm your polling place and hours. Locations can change between elections, and some places use vote centers rather than assigned precincts.
- Learn your options for voting. Rules for early voting, mail voting and ID requirements differ by state. We plan to explain how early voting and mail-in voting work and why states differ, but your state’s official site is the authority for current rules and deadlines.
- Research the races. Read candidates’ own materials, local news coverage, and nonpartisan voter guides. Notice who funds each source and what its incentives might be. Our media literacy guide can help you evaluate what you read.
- Understand the ballot layout. Judges, measures and down-ballot races can be confusing. We plan to cover how to read your ballot, including candidates, judges and ballot measures.
Registration deadlines and voting rules change, and they differ across states. Always confirm dates and requirements with your state or county election office rather than relying on any article, including this one.
Think about it: Name the last three offices you voted for, then name the three officials who most affect your daily life, such as the ones who set your property taxes, run your kid’s school, or maintain your street. How much do those two lists overlap? What would it take for the second list to feel as familiar as the first?
What Happens After Election Day
Election night is not the end of the process. Results reported on television are unofficial. Counties and states then complete counting, verify ballots, run audits where required, and formally certify results. Timelines differ by state. We plan to explain how votes are counted and certified after Election Day, and why some races take days or weeks to finalize.
Newly elected officials generally take office in the months that follow. New members of Congress are sworn in the following January, while governors and legislators take office on dates set by their state.
Why It Matters Beyond the Headlines
Elections are one tool among many for shaping public life. History shows that who gets to vote, and how easily, has been contested and expanded over time. Our guide to the history of voting rights in America traces that story directly, including who was excluded and how that changed. For a broader view, American history that explains today connects past decisions to present debates.
Voting is not the only way to take part. Attending a meeting, contacting an official, volunteering or running for office all count. See what civic engagement is, with 15 ways to show up beyond voting and how to run for local office.
And because midterm season can strain dinner tables, our practical guide on how to talk about politics with family offers ways to stay curious with people you love, even when you disagree.
Where to Start
This topic is big, so here is a simple roadmap. Pick the path that fits where you are:
- New to the basics? Begin with how the US government works, then what federalism is.
- Curious about Congress? Read how Congress works, then how a bill becomes a law.
- Focused on your own community? Try what a city council does and what a school board does.
- Wondering why your vote feels small? Look at gerrymandering and primary elections.
- Ready to go deeper? Browse the full Civic Foundations category, or pick up something from our reading list of books to understand America.
Key takeaways
- Midterms fall halfway through a president’s term and decide all 435 House seats, about one-third of the Senate, most governorships, many state legislative seats, and local offices and ballot measures.
- The presidency is not on the ballot, but Congress controls lawmaking and spending, which shapes what any president can do.
- States and localities make many decisions that touch daily life, from schools and taxes to criminal law and elections.
- Turnout is typically lower than in presidential years, so each vote can carry more weight, especially in down-ballot and local races.
- What is on your ballot depends on where you live; use your state or county election office’s official site to check registration, sample ballots, deadlines and rules.
- Historical patterns exist, but outcomes vary, and no article can tell you what will happen in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What do midterm elections decide?
Midterms decide who sits in all 435 seats of the U.S. House, roughly one-third of the Senate, most governorships, nearly all state legislatures, and thousands of local offices. They also often include ballot measures. The presidency is not on the ballot, but the winners shape what any president can accomplish.
Why are they called midterm elections?
They fall in the middle of a president’s four-year term. The presidency is not on the ballot, which is a big part of why fewer people vote.
Why is turnout lower in midterm years?
Presidential races draw more attention, advertising and news coverage, and the presidency is the most visible office in the country. Midterm ballots are made up of less familiar offices, and the stakes can feel more distant, even though the decisions are often closer to daily life. Turnout also tends to be lower in primaries, which are a separate step before the general election.
Does the president’s party usually lose seats in midterms?
Historically, the president’s party has lost House seats in most midterm elections, a pattern political scientists have documented for many decades. There are exceptions, and the size of the shift varies a lot. This guide makes no prediction about 2026.
How do I find out what is on my ballot?
Start with your state or local election office’s official website, which is usually run by the secretary of state or county elections office. Many states offer an official lookup tool where you enter your address to see your registration, polling place, and sample ballot. Nonpartisan voter guides can also help, but check the dates and sources.