The only election poll that matters

I’ve written before about how fall is one of my favorite times of the year, in part because Election Day is just around the corner. What does that day bring along with it?

The thrill of the vote.

For as long as I’ve been able, I’ve relished going to the polls come election time. A deep sense of patriotism and pride wells up inside of me as I stand in line behind other civic-minded folks who are waiting to make their voices heard. Long ago, brave warriors gave their lives so we could have and maintain that precious right.

I’ve changed the way I vote in recent years because I’m a full-time caregiver to my 83-year-old mom now. Going to the polls isn’t really an option for her anymore due to her mobility challenges, so we vote by absentee ballot instead of in person.

In pretty much every election cycle, we hear people, especially those running for office (and their campaign surrogates, pundits and the like), talk endlessly about how this will be “the most consequential election of our lifetimes!” They believe they’re right, and sometimes they are.

With whatever happens to be going on in any given year, whether it’s a stagnant or worsening economy, a major health scare, unrest overseas, or even war playing front and center in voters’ minds, the ones who show up to cast their ballots certainly feel compelled to do so due to the perception that it’s the most important election they’ve participated in since they registered to vote.

This year certainly seems to be that way for many voters, with polls showing the economy, healthcare, inflation, tariffs and the conflict with Iran being top of mind.

Because this is a midterm election year, the party in power (in this case, Republicans) historically doesn’t tend to fare well, and all available polling indicates that holding on to the House and Senate for the GOP is going to be challenging, even in some solidly red House districts and states where Republicans typically have had no problems winning elections.

But Democrats are facing their own issues in Democratic-run states such as Michigan and Minnesota, where candidate quality issues on their side and longstanding issues are reflected in polls that have consistently shown the GOP Senate nominees in those races with a real opportunity to flip Senate seats that have been reliably blue for decades.

Here in North Carolina, opinion is mixed on what the outcome of state legislative contests will be. But as is the case nationally, Republicans still have a fight on their hands, though winning majorities in the Senate and House outright here in the Old North State will be tough for Democrats to do.

There are also the all-important judicial races, which include the N.C. Supreme Court race, where Democratic Justice Anita Earls is being challenged by former Republican state Rep. Sarah Stevens.

With all the talk about polling, voter sentiment, the political environment, redistricting, etc., though, the ultimate decider at the end of the day is none of those. The true, most reliable gauge of voter sentiment is observed via the ballot box, which is why it’s important for you, the voter, to cast your ballot, whether now or on Nov. 3.

North Carolina native Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a media analyst and regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.