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Elections in the USA: Congressional Campaigns 

Regardless of your political preference or lack of it per se, presidential elections, congressional campaigns, or simple local council elections are hard to ignore. After all, voting is our civic duty and a way to make a positive difference and get one's opinion heard. It has to be noted that even though national elections always draw a larger number of voters compared to local elections, both federal and state elections have a long history in terms of default rights for American citizens. Essentially, as we approach the Constitution of the United States through the lens of election rights, it does not provide anything regarding who could or could not vote. Still, it provides how the voting and elections process would go. Therefore, it is safe to say that elections in the United States are not only a political matter but also the social aspect of who can participate in the elections regardless of direct or indirect election method. 

The Chemistry behind Congressional Campaigns

Turning to congressional campaigns, one can often see how certain politicians rule their congressional campaigns and voting by making it more challenging for certain populations and social circles to vote. For example, by reducing polling locations in the African American or Latinx communities or using business hours, politicians often use this aspect to control the elections process (Samuels et al.). While any political campaign must be seen as an organized effort that is always influenced by certain decisions, congressional campaigns occur every two years with the popular vote method being to choose winners. Thus, we do not have the Electoral College approach here like in the presidential election, which is why it all comes down to available funds and competition. 

It does not matter if an individual is for Republicans or Democrats, the chances are high that the specific organizations that control congressional campaigns do not really make their methods clear or available. After all, the primary role here is not to influence people, but to raise money for the stage of the particular elections where an emphasis must be made. 

The Role of the Media 

The next aspect that plays a major role in the elections is the media influence and biased attitude. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, more than half of the funds spent for congressional elections in 2018 (approximately more than $5 billion) have been spent on media (Prokop). The campaigns are usually focusing on advertising, television airtime, radio, and ads in print, television debates, and various online outlets. Speaking of the other half of funds related to elections, they are mostly aimed at consulting, campaign staff training, specific fundraising, and payments of all the obligatory administrative costs. Nevertheless, it is also safe to say that the media only plays a guiding role because it is the voter that will make a specific decision based on personal preferences that have already been constituted years before any election campaign. The reason for that also relates to local elections where every individual can shape their beliefs and opinions.

One Voice 

Even if one does not know the specifics of constitutional amendments and details of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the role of elections today has undergone certain evolution where voting became the driving force among Americans. While one may assume that a single vote or even a hundred voices cannot directly elect the president or senators, it always matters a great deal when researching election methods. The primary concern relates to the "winner takes it all" approach and the popular vote system (Weld, and Levinson). It is also not mandated by the Constitution, which brings up serious concerns between both major parties in the United States. A much better approach would be choosing electoral votes proportionally in terms of awarding them in relation to one's statewide popular vote. Such an approach would guarantee that every vote or those blue or red states have played their role in the outcome. Without a doubt, this approach has been discussed more than twice, yet no changes have been made so far. Finally, one does not even need a constitutional amendment to make these changes work.

The right to vote matters even more in the local elections that are coordinated by more transparent election strategies, which makes it possible to see how every voice can make a difference. Although we are dealing with a much smaller group, the same strategies and methods still apply. The more people can vote, the clearer are the results. It is exactly what makes elections in the United States and the high turnout vital for changes that take place and the objectives that have been set not only by politicians but by average members of the society. 

The Right to Vote 

Summing things up, it is safe to claim that elections represent one of the most important freedoms in the United States. As we know it, it has not always been the same because women or African Americans did not have their voting rights available to them in the past. It makes it even more important to appreciate our voting rights. The elections process should not be seen as a political only right, but as a responsibility that helps a person be aware of processes that take place in the country and beyond. It is a matter of being a responsible citizen who cares and shows respect. It does not matter what we believe in or whom we support, exercising one's rights is the pathway to expressing one's thoughts and being able to make a change. 

Works Cited 

Prokop, Andrew. "40 Charts That Explain Money In Politics". Vox, 2014, https://www.vox.com/2014/7/30/5949581/money-in-politics-charts-explain.

Samuels, Alex et al. "The States Where Efforts To Restrict Voting Are Escalating". Fivethirtyeight, 2021, https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-states-where-efforts-to-restrict-voting-are-escalating/.

Weld, William, and Sanford Levinson. "Winner-Take-All Presidential Elections: Unconstitutional And Unfair To Voters In 48 States". Usatoday.com, 2019,https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/10/winner-take-all-electoral-college-votes-unfair-unconstitutional-column/2264012001/