text: 17 Democrats and 11 Republicans are not seeking reelection in 2022. Source: BallotpediaRumors of new mail-in balloting requirements in response to the coronavirus are not surprising, but the hyper-vigilance on this issue could alienate would-be voters. At a minimum, the influx of outside spending, nearly two years of pandemic restrictions, and a plurality of voters believing the previous election was riddled with fraud will make the 2022 midterms controversial from coast to coast. The double-edged sword lies in destroyed faith in the electoral system and continuous media coverage proclaiming election fraud occurred with no change in outcome or charges against fraudsters. Political advertising is one mechanism to influence the election outcome and manipulated digital engagement is another. The 2020 election found that in key districts across the U.S., depending on your party proclivity, social media applications would incessantly inform you about the upcoming election or pretend it was a normal day. The digital tipping of the scales may not be the deciding factor, but it does have an impact. In conjunction with largely one-sided media coverage filtered through your favorite social platform, preferred outcomes become likely outcomes without substantial on-the-ground campaigning.