Perthetic Explainer: The US Midterms Are on Tuesday, and Here’s How They Compare to a Perth and Kinross By-Election
Americans vote for Congress, governors and more. Perth explains it using the only system it understands: the community council.
The US Capitol, which Perth thinks would look better with a scone shop. Photo: Martin Falbisoner, “US Capitol west side”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday for the midterm elections, and many Perth readers have asked us to explain what’s going on. Here is our handy guide.
What are the midterms? They are elections held halfway through a president’s term. Think of it as the community council election, but with more television and fewer arguments about dog bins.
Who is voting? Millions of Americans, plus, this year, the Pope, who sent his postal vote back from Rome. In Perth, by comparison, a typical by-election attracts “about 30 per cent of voters and a man who thought it was the bingo”.
How long does counting take? In some states, days. In Perth, it takes until about 3am, and then everyone goes to the Bells for a roll.
What happens next? Results will shape US politics for the next two years. In Perth, the same is true of community council results, especially if a new member has strong opinions on hanging baskets.
The real story: World news (BBC)
Letters to the Editor
The views expressed are those of the reader, and frankly that's on them.
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The man who thought it was the bingo was my uncle. He voted anyway. He said it was the most exciting bingo he’d been to.
— Jack H., Perth, 31 October 2026 -
Hanging baskets are a serious political issue and I’m glad someone’s finally said it.
— Wilma C., Tulloch, 31 October 2026
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