Story by Sandhya Maddali // @sandhyamad // she/her/hers

Design by Nidhi Malpani // @nidhi.malpani

Voting means a lot of different things to different people. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming and difficult to decipher between various candidates and policies; other times, it feels wholly pointless to vote, especially for communities whose voices are regularly ignored by the government.

This nation’s political system needs a full overhaul to be truly representative of every community, but if a person wants some say in their current government, voting is a good start. Especially when life-changing decisions can be made for you by the government.

The 2022 midterm elections are integral for changing the political landscape of Texas and the country as a whole. In the wake of the loss of federal protections for abortion, multiple states, including Texas, put abortion bans into effect. State elections will now be  what determines access to reproductive rights for millions of the state’s citizens. 

Midterms also determine which party controls the Senate and  House of Representatives. Though the presidential election receives the most publicity and attention, the president often cannot do much without the cooperation of the Senate and House. Despite not having as much awareness about these midterms, they do affect the trajectory of a presidency.

This upcoming election will also see a variety of important local races. The Austin mayor as well as various council positions are up for election. Many of these local races are important for policies like city budgeting, which impacts people the most in their day-to-day lives.

The deadline for voter registration has passed, but those who are registered can vote early from Monday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Nov. 4 between  7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Election day is Nov. 8. People can vote on campus on any of these dates at the Flawn Academic Center or the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Make your voice heard and go vote!