Interest in 2014 Midterm Elections Trails That of Years Past % who say they have followed news about this year 's congressional elections "very closely"
Midterm elections rarely excite the general public, but 2014 is shaping up to be an especially underwhelming cycle for many Americans. With about a month remaining in the congressional races, 15% are very closely following news about the midterms — down from similar periods before the elections in 2010 (25%) and 2006 (21%).
As Pew Research has tracked midterm news interest throughout the year, attention to the elections consistently has lagged behind what it was four years ago. In eight surveys this year, news interest in the midterms has never topped 16% in a given week.
Interest in 2014 Midterm Elections  | Trails That of Years Past  | % who say they have followed news about this  | year 's congressional elections "very closely"  | 35%  | 2010  | 30  | 25  | 2006  | 20  | 2014  | 15  | 10  | 0  | 150  | 120  | 90  | 60  | 30  | days prior to election  | Note: In 2006, the question asked about News about  | candidates and election campaigns in your state and district."  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 