Voters' voices: Key issues on the ballot

There is no shortage of hot-button issues driving voters to the polls this November. Nonpartisan analyst Nathan Gonzales reported last month that this year’s 2022 midterm elections could set another voter turnout record.

According to a recent Politico-Harvard survey, voters say they are most concerned about inflation and the economy, followed by gun policy, abortion and health care.

Kokopelli staff reporters worked together to analyze some of these key issues with an eye toward local politics heading into this year’s midterm elections. This series is intended to provide critical information for voters looking to understand what policy positions each party endorses. This series also features expert perspectives and local NMSU student and community perspectives.

A total of 470 seats in the U.S. Congress (35 Senate seats and all 435 House seats) are up for election on November 8, 2022. Democrats currently occupy 220 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans occupy 212 seats. There are currently three vacancies in the House as well. Democrats and Republicans each control 50 seats in the U.S. Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote giving the Democrats majority control.

Legislative policies around the economy, human rights, women’s bodily autonomy, gun control and other important issues are all on the ballot in less than a week.

As of Monday, Oct. 31, 1,362,028 New Mexicans were registered to vote. These voters, along with other voters from across the United States, are all in a position to determine the fate of many highly controversial issues that continue to divide the nation.

All voters are encouraged to consult votesmart.org in order to research candidates’ biographies, voting records, policy positions, ratings, speeches and funding. Votesmart.org is a nonpartisan organization. Its stated mission is “to provide free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials to all Americans.”