US mid-term elections 2022: How it will impact Joe Biden's remainder? All explained

US mid-term elections 2022: Americans will vote to pick new Congress members on November 8 in the mid-term elections. The mid-term elections in the United States are held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The elections take place near the midpoint of the serving President's tenure which is 4 years.

During the mid-term elections, Americans vote to elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. The US Senate has 100 members -- 2 members each from 50 states.

Main battleground

With less than two weeks until the US mid-term elections, Pennsylvania has become one of the main battleground states where the future of women's abortion rights will be decided. Besides, the skyrocketing inflation and the country's foreign policy especially in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war are among other key elements that will influence the November 8 polls.

Understanding US Congress

These elections are for the House of Representatives and the Senate, the two branches of Congress. Every two years, there are elections, which are known as the 'mid-term elections' since they take place in the middle of the president's four-year term.

The primary explanation is the short two-year terms of the House of Representatives. Despite the fact that Senate mandates are six years long, elections for 33 to 34 of the chamber's seats typically take place every two years, whether it's a year for the presidential or midterm elections.

How Numbers Stack Up
 

The ruling Democrats enjoy a thin majority in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, the two parties have equal members with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the deciding vote in a tie. In the upcoming crucial mid-term elections, voters in the US will cast their ballots to determine the next composition of the US Congress.

Currently, the Senate is about evenly divided between the two parties: 50 seats are held by Republicans, 48 by Democrats and two by Independents who back the Democrats. Any vote in the Senate that results in a tie is decided by the Vice President who serves as the Senate's chair. Democrats have an advantage in the Senate since US Vice President Kamala Harris is a Democrat.

In the House of Representatives, the Democrats hold 220 of the 435 seats, giving them a thin advantage over the Republicans, who have 212 representatives. There are three empty seats.

What if Republicans Win?

The mid-term elections in the US are seen as a referendum on the President. Alhough the results of the mid-term elections will have no impact on the tenure of the incumbent President, it will surely have an impact on Joe Biden's 2024 plans and legacy. 

Besides, the results will also shape the ruling party's plans in the run-up to the next Presidential poll.

If Republicans manage to gain the majority, President Joe Biden could find it difficult in implementing his government's agenda as the Opposition's arithmetic could push him on the backfoot.

The Opposition will make every possible effort to corner Biden and his party on issues directly concerning the people like inflation, rising fear of recession, unemployment, rising energy prices, appointments and more.

Role of Indo-American in US mid-term elections

Indian Americans make up over 1% of the population and have one of the highest per capita incomes of any ethnic group in the country.

The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), a non-profit organisation for policy research and awareness in the US, has stared a campaign -- #IndoAmericanVotesMatter to encourage people to vote on November 8.