Social Studies Lab

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Top issues in the midterm election

Critical Analysis

  1. According to the data from the visual above what is the top issue in the 2022 midterm election for Registered Voters?

  2. According to the visual what percent of all registered voters said that the coronavirus outbreak was very important to their vote in the 2022 midterm election?

  3. Of all the issues listed in the visual above, which issue had the biggest gap between Republican and Democratic registered voters. in its level of importance?

  4. Whether you can or cannot vote in next week’s election, how would you rank the topics listed in the visual above in order of importance to you?

  5. Over the past century, the share of eligible voters has never been over half in midterm elections. Based on the chart below*, what do you think the percent of eligible voters will be in the 2022 midterm election?

  6. Why do you think the economy is the most important issue to voters in the 2022 election?

  7. Which party will benefit most from the fact that the economy (see chart below)* is the most important issue to voters?

  8. Perhaps the most important issue in next week’s election is not even directly named on the list above. Many political scientists say that above all, midterm elections are a referendum (direct vote) on the job the president is doing. Joe Biden currently has a 42% approval rating. How much do you think Joe Biden will influence the outcome of the 2022 midterm election?

  9. A student named Sam argued that because most presidents are elected to office with their party controlling a majority of Congress, but then at the midterm elections, typically the president’s party tends to lose the majority of the Congress; that presidents really are only elected for two year terms. Make a claim about whether Sam is correct.

  10. Let’s just say that hypothetically Joseph Biden’s party loses control of the House and the Senate in the midterm election. Explain how the lose of his party’s control of Congress would impact Biden’s ability to govern the country.

Learning Extension

Check out all of the Pew Research Center visuals about voter intention in 2022.

Action Extension

Even if you can’t vote you can help mobilize voters in 2022. Volunteer to work with the Republican Party or the Democratic Party in the 2022 election.

Visual Extension*

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