Can Independents Vote in Midterms?

As many independent voters—those not a member of a political party —couldn't vote in the primaries earlier this year, there is some ambiguity over whether independents can take part in the upcoming midterms in November.

However, anyone can vote in the midterms, as long as they are registered. They don't have to be affiliated with a political party.

The midterms on November 8 will determine which party controls Congress, as well as governor offices and state houses across the country.

The election will probably influence how successful Joe Biden's agenda will be — if the Republicans win back Congress from the Democrats, the president will face an uphill battle trying to pass key legislation. A poll from October 10 showed that Republicans are leading on two key issues heading into November: the economy and inflation. Clear majorities trust the Republicans more than the Democrats on those issues.

Historically, the opposition party tends to fare well in the midterms, but Biden has been bolstered by recent legislative victories and increasing popularity.

Primary Limits

Independent voters were unable to vote in primaries in some states. Where there were closed primaries, only voters registered with a particular party could vote. For example, you could only vote in Republican primaries if you were a registered GOP party member.

States with closed primaries include Arizona, Connectict, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

In several states, the Democratic party has amended its rules to allow independents to participate. These states include Alaska, California, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Washington.

How to Vote in the Midterms

In the midterms, voters will just have needed to have registered to vote and it isn't necessary to be a member of a political party. States have different deadlines as to when you can register to vote – individual state and registration deadlines are on Vote.gov.

Some states allow same-day voter registration. These states are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

North Dakota doesn't require voter registration.

Each state has its own set of options and policies around voting early or voting by mailed ballot.

You can also check your voter registration on Vote.gov. It's possible to check family and friends' vote registrations. The website also shows the locations you can vote in.

How Do the Midterms Work?

The critical votes take place two years after a presidential election, mid-way through the president's term.

There will be 35 of the U.S. Senate's 100 seats contested, along with all 435 seats in the U.S. House. Each state has two senate seats, while the number of House seats is based on each state's size.

Governorships, state legislators, local councils and school boards will also be up for grabs across the country on November 8.

Newsweek has contacted the Fair Elections Center for comment.