Every two years, voter turnout follows a familiar pattern: many people vote in presidential elections, but fewer vote in midterm elections. For older adults and families in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties. That difference matters. Midterm and local elections can affect the services that help people age safely at home, including meals, transportation, caregiver support, and in-home care.
At Ageways, we hear from families who are trying to find help with these services and other supports. Many people are surprised to learn that these services are often shaped not only by presidential elections, but also by the quieter elections that happen in between.
Presidential elections decide who leads the federal government. The president appoints leaders of agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Community Living. These agencies help guide programs connected to the Older Americans Act, which supports senior centers, home-delivered meals, caregiver services, and other programs across the country. Presidential administrations also influence Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security proposals, and nursing home safety priorities.
Midterm elections decide who controls Congress. This is important because Congress writes the federal budget. The House and Senate decide whether aging programs are renewed and funded, whether Medicaid home- and community-based services grow or shrink, and how much funding reaches Area Agencies on Aging, like AgeWays, which serves as the Area Agency on Aging serving older adults in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties.
Midterms also decide every Michigan seat in the U.S. House, one-third of the U.S. Senate, and many important state offices. In Michigan, midterm election years also include races for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and every seat in the Michigan Legislature.
For many families, the services an older adult uses this week are shaped more by state and local decisions than by national politics. A meal delivery route, a senior center program, or a local transportation service may depend on decisions made in Lansing, at the county level, or by a township board.
A presidential election will not decide whether a senior transportation van keeps running in rural Livingston County or whether a local meal program receives more funding. A county commission race, township race, or millage renewal can make that difference.
Midterm elections usually have lower turnout than presidential elections. Older adults often vote at higher rates than other age groups, which means they can have a strong voice in midterm and local elections. But that voice is strongest when people understand what is on the ballot and how those decisions connect to everyday services.
Family caregivers may be focused on work, appointments, and daily care needs, so it is easy to overlook a county commission race or a local primary. Still, those races can affect the support a parent, spouse, neighbor, or friend receives through meal delivery, transportation, and in-home services.
Presidential elections help set the national direction for aging policy. Midterm, state, and local elections often decide the funding and day-to-day details that determine whether services reach people at home. For families who rely on home care, meal delivery, transportation, or caregiver support, voting in every election helps protect and strengthen the local safety net.
Ageways helps families across Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties find aging services and support. To learn more about local resources, explore our other guides or contact our team.
