Turnout in recent elections has trended higher than usual— with over 60% of U.S. residents of voting age participating in the 2020 presidential election and about 50% participating in the preceding 2018 midterms, according to the Pew Research Center. Experts are predicting high turnout this year, but the U.S. still trails other developed countries when it comes to voter participation. When comparing the 2020 election with elections in 49 countries around the same time, the U.S. ranks 31st in terms of voting-age population turnout—right between Colombia and Greece.

Without a president on the ballot, will we see the numbers from 2020 drop? It's easy to assume that an election without the highest office up for grabs might be less important, but nothing could be further from the truth. Here's 5 reasons why the midterms matter, and why you should get out and vote.