Q&A: UNC Charlotte elections and voting expert answers questions about the upcoming midterms

The 2026 midterm election is approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Martha Kropf, professor of public policy, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and the Bonnie Cone Professor of Civic Engagement 2026-29, researches election science, voting behavior and public opinion. Here, Kropf answers questions about midterm elections, voter participation and voting myths.

How do midterm elections differ from general elections and why do they matter?

Presidential elections are high-intensity affairs when most of the folks who are interested in politics are paying attention to the highest profile race on the ballot: the presidency. Paying attention to one big contest is cognitively easier for citizens than multiple lower profile races, which is the case for the midterm. Everyone all over the country is talking about it and the presidential candidates have name recognition. Turnout is higher in presidential contests than in midterms.

Senate contests garner relatively less attention, especially if the seat is not open. Add to that in a midterm year, a Senate contest may not even be on the ballot because the U.S. Senate terms are six years. In North Carolina, we have an open U.S. Senate seat in a purple state. It’s a really expensive contest, evidenced by all the television ads and mailers, with both sides working to mobilize voters. But turnout will still not be as high as in a presidential contest.

What does research show about why a greater percentage of eligible voters decide to “sit out” midterm elections than with presidential elections? 

People vote when they think their vote matters and when they know what they are voting on. In the midterm, not everyone will know who is running. So they sit out.

Historically, have midterm elections reflected public opinion about government performance? In what ways?

Primarily, if there is a perception that the economy is not doing well, it will hurt the sitting president’s party. But the president’s party typically loses seats, especially in the first midterm election of a term. The president’s popularity has traditionally been a big factor in how their party does in the midterms.

What strategies have proved to increase voter participation across all parties? 

I don’t like to say “proved” because I am a social scientist. We provide evidence to support our hypotheses. If the same hypotheses are supported over and over, we might say they are definitive (e.g., the economy matters).

Social capital matters; our social interactions affect our willingness to participate in voting. We know that face-to-face contact with voters affects turnout. That’s why so many people are knocking on doors and candidates are out meeting people. Also, letting people know that others might judge them positively or negatively for their decision to turn out to vote matters, so consider asking your friends if they will vote.

As for campaign ads and mailed contact, it matters most for the “sometimes” voters. You won’t move the needle much with those who vote all the time or those who never vote. And we know if young voters get in the habit of voting early, they will most likely keep voting.

How does early voting affect voter access and participation? Does one affect the other?

Ironically, early voting does not increase voter turnout in most studies. It simply makes it easier for those who plan to vote anyway; they won’t have to stand in line on Election Day. 

What best practices can election officials use to ensure voting — early or on Election Day — is secure and accessible?

Our local election offices have done a lot to protect your ballot. I’d like to suggest that we voters have a job, now.

First, all should know that voting machines are not connected to the internet, so don’t worry about hacking. Second, check your ballot before you submit it and make sure your choices register. This just takes a few seconds and people often just don’t do it. Third, know that local election officials have done a lot already. They will count the ballots and audit them. Almost every jurisdiction in the United States has a method to audit the ballots to check for mistakes in counting.

If you are mailing your ballot, you can track it. So, do so and make sure it counts. Make sure you follow the directions. Make sure your inner envelope is sealed. Make sure you have the right signatures. Be aware of deadlines. North Carolina has very tight deadlines now—it does not matter anymore if your ballot is postmarked before Election Day; it has to be at the office. 

What are some practical steps people can take to prepare for an upcoming election?

Make a plan for voting. And know this: You can register and vote during early voting and you can do it at any voting location in the county where you live. But, on Election Day, if you want to vote, you must have registered before and you must go to your assigned precinct. 

North Carolina residents can access their sample ballot and voting location simply by visiting the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. You also can check your registration there. All the counties in the area have election offices, too. The information you find on either is a source of trustworthy information. Don’t simply search the internet. Find the authoritative information.

If you could dispel one myth about voting, what would it be and why?

I’ve read several times this election season that we should check our ballots carefully because “election officials are shady and working to change the results of the elections.” I also hear, “I trust the election officials in my county but I don’t know about the ones in other states.” 

Mistakes do happen occasionally because voting is a process run by human beings. But they are not a sign of malicious intent. You should check your ballot to make sure your choices are registered, but not to point a finger at the people who run elections.  

I have met a lot of election officials in my work: Republicans, Democrats, unaffiliated. They are hard-working professionals trying to make an election work for their voters and they take great pride in that. It’s a hard, high-profile job that has changed a lot in the last 25 years. 

Written and edited by Susan Messina and Martha Kropf