Get out and vote

OPINION:

Tuesday is the last chance to have a say in how the country is run for the next couple of years. About half the number of people likely to cast a ballot — around 76 million so far — did so early, by NBC’s reckoning.

By Wednesday morning, we will have spent in excess of $16 billion — the gross domestic product of a Third World country — on the quadrennial contest, which is a sign of how high the stakes are. It could mean the difference between paying more than $3 or more per gallon to fill your gas tank or going back to paying under $2. It could also determine whether you’ll be allowed to choose what kind of car you drive.

Government policies, particularly the levels of spending, regulation and taxation, have a direct impact on the pocketbook. The median monthly rent in places such as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, went from just over $1,007 in 2019 to $1,396 this year. In Greensboro, North Carolina, it went from $1,021 to $1,524. The price of eggs jumped by 176%, frozen orange juice is 75% pricier and a loaf of bread costs 52% more today, according to data compiled by CBS News.

That’s the difference a change in ownership of the White House and Congress can make.

It can even affect the fortunes of people living far beyond our borders. Russian leader Vladimir Putin saw the disastrous 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan as a sign of weakness and decided to invade Ukraine. The administration’s choice of easing financial sanctions against Iran filled its coffers, enabling it to arm proxies in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon for a bloody conflict with Israel. Amid the geopolitical chaos, China may decide to grab Taiwan.

One vote may seem inconsequential in comparison to such weighty matters, but recent presidential contests have tended to come down to the wire in a handful of states.

The latest RealClearPolling average shows former President Donald Trump with a statistically meaningless 0.1% edge in the popular vote. Should he win 270 electoral votes along with a popular mandate, it would go a long way toward providing the momentum he would need to advance an agenda in the critical first 100 days in office.

That means Mr. Trump’s supporters in the District can help out by casting a ballot, even though the city’s three electoral votes are permanently in the grip of the Democratic candidate. MAGA voters have the most impact when turning out in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, where Mr. Trump narrowly leads the RCP average. It could also make the difference in Michigan and Wisconsin, where the former president falls short by an imperceptible margin.

Admirers of the current administration might realize House Speaker Mike Johnson’s grasp on the gavel rests on three congressional seats, meaning the Louisiana Republican presides with the weakest majority seen since 1953. There’s no way to implement conservative policies when a handful of absent members deny his ability to pass a bill.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer knows that well, as the New York Democrat has a one-vote majority. Every House seat is up for grabs, and every seat matters.

For those who have already done their civic duty, there’s good news. The cacophony of television, internet and radio ads will go silent. Crews will be dispatched to gather the placards cluttering the highways. Unwanted text messages and postcards begging for your money will finally go away — until 2028.