“I Voted” stickers are given to voters who participate in the 2022 Midterm Elections.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
By Brianna Bush
Midterm elections on Nov. 8 mark the final stretch for candidates across the country.
The elections come at Joe Biden’s halfway point in presidency and are key to determining who represents each state in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The outcome will also determine which party holds power in Congress for the next two years.
Members of the House of Representatives are chosen every two years while the Senate every six years – amounting to 435 vacant congressional seats in this election.
Issues like abortion and inflation are proving to be the driving factors in election results as candidates make their final pitches. Where candidates stand is of significant concern to voters following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the weight of the economy.
In the state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is up for re-election against main Democrat contender Charlie Crist, the current U.S Representative for Florida’s 13th congressional district.
The main contenders for Florida Senate are Democrat Val Demings, a former Orlando police chief, and Senator Marco Rubio who is running for re-election.
Spearheading the race for Florida’s 13th congressional district are Pinellas County candidates Republican Anna Paulina Luna, who served in the United States Air Force, and Eric Lynn, former senior advisor for President Barack Obama.
Several offices serving Pinellas County are also heading into the upcoming election including Pinellas County Commissioner District 2 and Pinellas County Court Judge Group 1. Those candidates include Democrat Patricia Gerard and Republican Brian Scott, as well as Nonpartisan candidates Della Cope and Megan Roach, respectively.
The county legislature has policymaking authority and county court judges weigh in on Civil and Criminal Courts at the trial level.
Along with major elections happening across the state, it is vital that people also vote in the local elections.
“[Voting] is the fundamental opportunity for people and everyone who really is a stakeholder in the future of our state, county, city and beyond to share their voice,” Sean Schrader, the USF St. Petersburg campus student governor, said.
While early voting started on Oct. 24 and ended on Nov. 6, students still have a chance to participate in the election.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Student Government will be partnering with the Center for Civic Engagement at USF St. Petersburg to provide free transportation to the polls for students who registered to vote.
“I think we’re helping to make sure that students know just how important their voice is and just how much they can play a role in shaping their future,” Schrader said.
Students can vote in-person on Nov. 8 by visiting several locations near campus:
- Pinellas County Community Church – 5501 31st St.
- Lakewood United Methodist Church – 5995 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S.
- Bay Vista Center – 7000 4th St. S.
Students can also visit the Pinellas County “Precinct Finder” to locate the closest polling place to them.
To sign up for free transportation to the polls, visit: https://form.jotform.com/222974101600142
To learn more about how to vote in the upcoming elections, visit: https://www.votepinellas.gov/
