American Politics

[Freshrain]

I think this is the first time in my life I've been invested in the 'mid- terms' in USA (I'm in UK).

Can anyone answer a few questions for me please, about the mechanics and processes rather than the political affiliations.

Have I understood correctly that people can vote across a number of days ?
I've heard about 'early voting' and seen clips of school students 'marching to vote', and read lots of reports of 'machines not registering the vote the person wanted, until they pressed it a few times', from which I have gleaned that people must not all vote on the same day ?

If that's right, can you choose which day to vote, over a week or whatever? Or is it allocated somehow ?

In the UK, we go to the place where you vote ( there are LOADS of halls commandeered for this, so no-one needs travel far), and you put a cross on a piece of paper, by the candidate you want. What are these voting machines I am hearing about? How do they work ?

Do you vote in lots of different elections at the same time ? I hear about the 'race for Governor' and the possibility of Trump losing (or maintaining) power in the 'House of Representatives' and also 'the Senate'. Do Americans go to vote and have to vote for different candidates for different offices, at the same time ?

Sorry if everyone else knows all this but I figure I won't find out unless I admit my lack of knowledge and ask.

I'm sure there are other questions I have(or maybe others have), but this would be a great start.

I don’t know the answers to these questions either @Freshrain, but I would like to. Thanks for asking and I’m going to lurk until some clever person gives us answers!

@MissConductUS?

Might you be able to answer this with your usual incisiveness?

My ears are ringing. 😁

That is a lot of questions. I'm a Yank and long time MN'er, by the way.

Voting rules are set at the state level, and states run all elections. The Constitution specifies this for a variety of reasons. So the rules can and do vary from place to place.

It used to be that everyone voted on a single day, except for mail in (postal) ballots. People could vote by mail only for specific reasons. Then, in the early 2000s, states started trying to make voting easier and more convenient to increase voter participation rates.

In New York, where I am, early voting starts a week before the election date. You have to go to an early voting site in your county so they can check your records to confirm you are eligible and haven't already voted. You can vote any day during that period or wait until Election Day, as you wish.

Many elections, state and local, are all voted on the same date. This is done purposely for efficiency. So I voted for my congressional representative, the state governor, the state attorney general, and several local offices when I voted this past Monday. Members of the House have to run every two years; members of the Senate have six-year terms, so they aren't on the ballot as often. The House of Representatives and the Senate collectively make Congress. Members of the House are commonly referred to as members of Congress, and members of the Senate are called Senators.

States can select and use whatever voting equipment they like, as long as it's certified. Some states use touch screens, but that is becoming less common as it is difficult to audit the results. In NY, I fill out a paper ballot by marking ovals with a black marker pen and putting it through a scanner, which then records my vote. They retain the paper ballot in case a recount is needed. This is becoming the standard approach.

Have I missed anything?

Thanks for the heads up, @ReleaseTheDucksOfWar.

I forgot to mention that many states have also expanded voting by mail. This has been especially important in states like Alaska, where the population is small and spread out over a very large area.

Thank you for calling in an expert @ReleaseTheDucksOfWar
and the thank you SO much for all this information @MissConductUS

This is exactly the information I feel I have been missing.

Many elections, state and local, are all voted on the same date. This is done purposely for efficiency

This part makes a lot of sense - the efficiency part.

Would it be really cheeky of me to ask further ?

What do Congressional Representatives 'do' that Senators don't, or equally, the other way round ?

Also, do you have representatives that are neither Democrats nor Republicans ?

In the UK, there are MPs (Members of Parliament) from 7 or 8 different parties, plus Independents who don't belong to any party, even though (historically, though not as much today) the overwhelming power has been between the Labour Party and the Conservatives. I've only ever hear Democrats and Republicans mentioned in the States in our general news and media.

Not cheeky at all, please ask away.

The House and the Senate each have some exclusive powers. The Senate, for example ratifies treaties and confirms cabinet members and Supreme Court Judges. Impeachment actions must start in the House and then be voted on in the Senate. Budgets must also originate in the House. I'm sure I'm forgetting others.

We wound up with a bicameral legislature as a result of a compromise when the Constitution was being drafted by the original thirteen colonies. The large states wanted legislative seats apportioned by population, and the small states wanted every state to have the same number of seats. The solution was to have both. Every state has two senators, and the number of congressional representatives changes after each census, every ten years.

You don't have to be a democrat or republican to run. A small but not insignificant number of independents serve in both chambers.

I'm shamelessly stealing this from Google Gemini to highlight some other differences:

The U.S. Congress is divided into two distinct chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both must pass a bill for it to become law, but they differ significantly in size, terms, representation, and special powers. 1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Differences at a Glance

FeatureHouse of Representatives Senate
Total Size
435 voting members
100 members
Representation
Individual congressional districts (based on population)
Entire states (2 senators per state)
Term Length
2 years (entire chamber up for re-election)
6 years (staggered; 1/3 up every 2 years)
Minimum Age
25 years old
30 years old
U.S. Citizenship
At least 7 years
At least 9 years
Unique Powers
• Originates all revenue/tax bills
• Sole power to impeach federal officials
• Confirms presidential nominations (cabinet, judges, Supreme Court)
• Ratifies treaties
• Tries and votes to convict/remove impeached officials

House of Representatives ("The People's House")

• Purpose: Designed to be closer to the everyday public with high turnover and frequent elections every two years. src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/jPNab4TMGaM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen> 1]
• Apportionment: Seats are divided among the 50 states proportional to their population, meaning larger states like California or Texas have many representatives, while smaller states have at least one. 1]
• Rules: Generally operates under more centralized leadership and stricter debate-limiting rules controlled by the majority party. 1]
• Read more: Explore The House Explained or review basics via the Library of Congress Legislative Process. 1, 2]

The Senate ("The Upper Chamber")
Purpose: Designed to act as a stabilizing, more deliberate body with longer, staggered six-year terms. 1]
Apportionment: Every state is strictly equal, with exactly 2 senators per state (total of 100), giving small and large states the same voice. 1]
Rules: Favors extended debate, consensus-building, and procedural tools like the filibuster, requiring supermajorities for certain actions like cloture or treaty ratification. 1, 2]
Read more: Review structure details from Maryville University's Government Guide or study constitutional outlines in the National Capitol Visitor Center Essay. 1, 2]

Thanks again @MissConductUS .

It is really interesting and helpful to understand.

You’re quite welcome, @Freshrain. It’s not often that being an American is helpful on MN. 😊