This year’s U.S. midterm election will occur on Tuesday, November 8 and will involve elections for all 435 House of Representatives’ seats as well as 35 of the 100 Senate seats. But what is a midterm election, and how do we register and cast our votes?

Midterm elections, congressional elections held in November, are a type of general election which take place in the midst of the executive’s term and allow voters to choose their representatives and other subnational officeholders. Every two years, elections are held for Congress. Every member of the House of Representatives and one-third of the senators are elected by the people. In the middle of the presidential election cycle are midterm elections.

What’s the big deal about Midterms?

According to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates,  the majority party selects the members of crucial committees, therefore whichever party controls the House or the Senate decides what congress will consider regarding cooperation with the White House and law passing. The capability of the president to implement his or her plans depends significantly on whether the president’s party holds majorities in both chambers of Congress. On November 8, results for state legislative seats, numerous governorships, hundreds of mayoral races, and more will be determined. Despite the fact that state elections rarely grab the attention of the national media, the vast majority of legislation in the country is approved at the state level rather than the federal level.

How do you register in the state of Wisconsin?

You must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Wisconsin, and have lived at the registration address for at least 28 days prior to the election in order to register to vote in the midterm elections. Additionally, you must be 18 years old on Election Day or earlier and cannot have a court ruling determining that you can’t comprehend the importance of an election. You are also not permitted to profit financially from the election.

In Wisconsin, you can register to vote in person or online. To register online, print a voter registration form from register to vote , complete it, and submit it to your local election office, you can also register to vote in Wisconsin by mail.