If you’re frustrated, demoralized or frightened by what’s happening around you, the least you can do is vote.

And the first step is making sure you’re registered. 

The 2026 midterms are Nov. 3, and an enormous amount of money and political power is already being deployed to shape their outcome. 
Republicans have some massive financial resources at their disposal, especially when you include outside groups and wealthy donors. President Donald Trump alone may spend $400 million to $500 million from his political operation to help Republicans in November. 

Republicans have also pushed gerrymandered congressional maps across the country, including here in Florida, to help their chances of winning, while the Trump administration tried — and failed — to implement sweeping changes to mail voting through the U.S. Postal Service. 

These fights over district lines, election rules and campaign spending are reminders that elections are about more than just voting. 

But even so, voting is the very least any of us can do. 

Voting won’t solve everything, and one ballot may seem insignificant compared with hundreds of millions of dollars in political spending. But millions of ballots are millions of people deciding to participate. 

So start with yours. 

Even if you choose not to donate,  

volunteer or knock on doors, the least you can do is vote. 

Check your registration. If you aren’t registered, register. If you’ve moved, changed your name or haven’t voted in a while, make sure your information is current. 

Then make a plan for how you’ll vote. 
Encourage your friends and family to do the same. Send someone the registration link. Remind someone when early voting begins. 

You don’t control congressional maps or outside spending. But you control whether you participate. 

The least you can do is vote. 

The first thing you can do is register.