The focus is on the country's largest city, New York, where a mayor is to be elected. There, the young left-wing Democrat Zorhan Mamdani, who has promised free buses and more housing, is leading over more established politicians such as former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
On the other side of the US, in California, perhaps the most talked-about state vote is being held. It concerns a proposal called Proposition 50, which was introduced this summer in response to Republican-led Texas's move to redraw the electoral districts there. The aim was to secure at least five congressional seats for President Trump's party in next year's midterm elections – and California countered with similar measures in favor of the Democrats.
Changed rules?
The California state legislature has given the bill the green light and Governor Gavin Newsom has signed it into law, but the new map must be approved by residents in a special election. The proposal stirs up strong emotions but looks set to pass, according to the latest polls .
The rules of the game have changed. . . He knows he will lose the midterm elections, he is trying to rig the election, Newsom claims about President Donald Trump in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, where he also says he is confident that Proposition 50 will get the green light.
The redrawing of electoral maps to favor a specific party is a controversial phenomenon known as gerrymandering. Usually, electoral districts are reviewed by a non-political commission in conjunction with the censuses held every ten years.
Breakfast and ski trails
Election rules are a common topic in US elections. In Maine, for example, voters will have to decide whether voters must show photo ID to vote, and in Texas, whether voters must be able to prove they are US citizens.
In parallel, voters in New Jersey and Virginia will elect new governors. Texas is holding a by-election for a House member who resigned, and more cities than New York are electing mayors.
In many places, more unusual issues are also on the agenda. Colorado residents will decide how to finance the free breakfast and lunch served in schools. And in New York state, residents will vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow the Olympic sports complex Mount Van Hoevenberg, near Lake Placid, to have ski trails and infrastructure of international standards – despite the fact that it is located in a nature reserve.
Traditionally, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November is Election Day in the United States. Congressional elections are held every two years, and presidential elections are held every four years.
This year – when no such elections are held – the focus is on the mayoral election in New York, the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as a series of state ballots and local and regional elections.
The decision on when the election should take place was made by Congress in 1845 and has to do with the fact that the United States was then an agricultural society: November was considered the time of year when it was easiest for farmers to get out – they were not sowing or harvesting at that time. And since many traveled to the polling stations by horse and buggy, elections could not be held on Mondays, because then voters might have to start their journey on Sunday, which was a day of rest.
The 435 members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years. The 100 senators are elected for six years, with the terms of about a third of them expiring every two years.
