Voter interest is at a record low for tonight's midterms


Despite tonight's midterm elections being the most expensive in American history, voter interest is at a record low.
Though the GOP expects wins in both the House and the Senate, some Senate races are likely to be too close to call. Voters are deeply divided about what President Obama should do during his final two years in office, and surveys have shown that voter interest is much lower than it was in the elections four years ago.
An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that 58 percent of Republicans were interested in the midterm campaigns, as were 57 percent of Democrats, as of late October. But at the same time in 2010, 70 percent of Republicans were interested, and two-thirds of Democrats were interested in 2006.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The New York Times predicts likely runoffs in Georgia and Louisiana's Senate races, and late vote counts in Alaska, Colorado, and Iowa. Uncertainty about the midterms, according to the Times, is "a fitting match for the mood of the nation," as concerns about the economy, ISIS, and Ebola reach a fever pitch. Both parties "have done little to inspire the electorate," the Times notes, with both Republicans and Democrats lacking defined platforms.
Whatever the outcome of tonight's events, the Times says, it is "not likely to result in a drastic change of policy." Obama will still defend his health care law, and Republicans will either compromise or work against him.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
July 19 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include a Medicaid time bomb, and Donald Trump's fixation with the Fed's Jerome Powell
-
5 hilariously cutting cartoons about the Department of Education
Cartoons Artists take on being rotten to the core, budget cuts, and more
-
Kartoffelsalat (potato salad) recipe
The Week Recommends German dish is fresh, creamy and an ideal summer meal
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department