Election officials will send out mail-in ballots to 22 million registered voters in California by Oct. 10 in accordance with the midterm election on Nov. 8.

California voters will make decisions on Gov. Gavin Newson’s reelection for his potential final term as well as selecting state assembly seats, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state and the attorney general.

“If you’re looking at who is the most important person to vote for, I think you can make a stronger argument for midterms versus presidential election,” passion civics teacher Samantha Ezratty said. “With midterm elections, we’re voting for the people who are in government that are making the most amount of decisions that are the most impactful for individuals on a daily basis.”

There will also be a special election this midterm where Californians will vote to finish the term of former California senator and current Vice President Kamala Harris, which was supposed to end on Jan. 3, 2023, along with a general election for the six-year California senate seat ending in 2029, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Although citizens must be at least 18 years of age to vote in the midterm elections, 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote in future elections, according to senior Michael Yi, who pre-registered to vote when he turned 16.

“I plan on voting in the next midterm election because it’s important for me to express my beliefs and who I want to legislate, who I want as government officials and the senators,” Yi said. “I want them to represent who I am and what I believe.”

Students can also take an active role as citizens in the midterm elections without directly voting, according to California Association of Student Councils president and senior Ellie Lian. 

“Obviously, voting is the most direct way to utilize your voice, but there’s a lot of other ways that you can get civically engaged,” Lian said. “You can help canvassing for a representative that you really agree with, or you can just stay on top of the news and implement that as a regular habit. So when the time comes, when you’re eligible to vote, this is something that comes naturally to you and not something that you have to learn all over again in a shorter period of time.”