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.

All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs

Current Government Shutdown: Longest In History?

Midterm elections give voters the ability to change the party in power in the House of Representatives. All winners are determined by popular vote, unlike in a presidential election, and 218 seats are needed to achieve a majority in the House.

1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election

7. Senator Cory Booker

The same is true for Senate midterms- it's a chance to change the party in power. Only 51 seats are needed to achieve a Senate majority.

State and local elections are more important than you think

The competition for the Texas U.S. Senate seat was fierce (and expensive). https://www.thenation.com/article/beto-orourke-trump-bigotry-texas/ (AP/ Richard W. Rodriguez)

State and local races don’t get as much coverage as national elections, but they affect your daily life more than any other elections. For example, the race for governor between incumbent Greg Abbott and challenger Beto O'Rourke will largely determine the state of reproductive rights, immigration, and gun control in Texas.

Midterms affect the President's ability to take action

What My Criminal Justice Minor Means To Mehttps://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/07/15/president-obama-our-criminal-justice-system-isnt-smart-it-should-be

Whichever party controls the House and Senate effectively controls the President's agenda. They become the majority party, and their ability to control congressional committees means anything the president wants to accomplish must be supported by them.

Important legislation could be stalled or moved forward

Banning abortions won't stop abortions, It Will only stop sAFE abortionsCreative Commons/Photo by ALL Life Defender

It's typical for the President’s party to lose House seats during midterms. If that happens in this election, the Republican Party will control the House. The legislation that would get the government's top focus would be in line with their agenda. That could mean the stalling of important legislation on everything from reproductive rights to immigration. The controlling party also has the ability to confirm Supreme Court nominees.