Illustration by Jess Ebsworth / Words by Amaris Ramey

Most of us are familiar with the bustling noise of election season. For years, community organizers, volunteers and voters have passed out water bottles, held voter registration drives and walked out of voting precincts with “I voted stickers” proudly stuck on their water bottles and t-shirts. While the excitement of election season is important, the time to engage and vote in this year’s midterm elections is more important than ever. 

All 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate are up for election in 2022. Together, these legislative bodies are responsible for crafting and passing federal laws. With the spike of anti-LGBTQ legislation being passed throughout states and anti-abortion laws that leave women and communities of color at a greater risk, voting in the midterm elections can have a powerful impact on the way that our country creates and passes laws in our upcoming future. Here’s what’s at stake and why you should vote.

Voting for offices such as the Governor, State Legislature, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives can impact laws that are put into place for LGBTQ rights. This year, there has been a rise in anti-trans legislation being passed by legislators in their states. A majority of state legislation is dictated by the governor, who essentially manages the state executive branch and can sign bills into law – or veto legislation that they oppose. The elected governor in a state can impact the way that LGBTQ people navigate their daily lives. 


When voting in gubernatorial and state legislature elections, voters should keep in mind where their candidates stand on the rights of LGBTQ people, and the protections that they would add for citizens of the LGBTQ community. Those concerned with the welfare of LGBTQ rights should also look for local positions such as School Board on your ballot. The candidates listed could make final decisions around whether or not conversations around gender identity and sexuality are discussed in classrooms and in books. 

The midterm election is also important for the rights of people who identify as Indigenous and/or People of Color. Many states are electing a Secretary of State, the office responsible for administering elections. The Secretary of State has the ability to expand or restrict voter access. Historically, there have been ongoing disparities in access to the ballot box for communities of color, so these elected officials play a critical role in making voting more equitable and accessible. Positions open for members of the School Board could also greatly impact people of color, as these offices could decide what curriculum would be placed in public education settings or restrict how topics of race are covered in schools.

The midterm elections can have a chilling effect on women and those who possess childbearing abilities. Recently, the Supreme Court overturned Roe V .Wade which protected the constitutional right in the United States for people to have access to abortions. The overturning of this decision means that the right to have an abortion is no longer federally protected by the Constitution.


Elected officials in your state – including your Governor, State legislators, even State Supreme Court Justices – may determine whether or not abortion access and other reproduction freedoms would be protected by state laws. Another position that may also appear on your ballot is Attorney General. This position can provide guidance to State organizations. As the top legal authorities in their State, they may determine whether or not someone receiving an abortion would be criminalized.

Related Articles