A quiet Halloween amid rising election enthusiasm

On Oct 15, while taking an Uber to Harry Reid International Airport after a business trip to Las Vegas, I struck up a conversation with the driver about the city's tourism industry.

"Business is getting harder," he said, explaining that fewer visitors seemed to be coming to Las Vegas for gambling and entertainment, making it more difficult for ride-hailing drivers to find passengers.

He attributed the slowdown to economic uncertainty and rising living costs, saying people were increasingly reluctant to spend money on leisure activities.

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the city welcomed approximately 3 million visitors in August 2026, down 4.3 percent from a year earlier, although convention attendance increased during the same period.

My return journey that evening was interrupted by an unexpected flight cancellation.

After an hour-long delay, I finally boarded my flight, only to wait another half-hour as the captain repeatedly apologized over the intercom.

The aircraft finally pulled away from the gate but returned minutes later. The captain announced that the flight had been canceled for operational reasons.

Back in Southern California, late October remained unusually warm, bringing back memories of the crisp autumn weather I had experienced years earlier in Canada.

With Halloween approaching, my neighborhood also seemed noticeably quieter than in previous years.

In past Octobers, many residents decorated their homes and gardens with pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, spiderwebs and colorful lights. Some created elaborate displays that attracted neighbors and children throughout the holiday season.

This year, however, fewer houses appeared decorated, and the familiar festive atmosphere seemed less pronounced.

During visits to nearby stores, I also noticed what appeared to be lighter customer traffic in sections selling Halloween decorations and merchandise for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Inflation has moderated from its earlier peaks, yet prices for many everyday goods and services remain substantially higher than several years ago. Housing, groceries, insurance and transportation continue to place pressure on household budgets.

For families managing these expenses, seasonal decorations and other discretionary purchases may become lower priorities.

Yet while Halloween celebrations appeared more subdued in my neighborhood, enthusiasm for the Nov 3 midterm elections was growing across the country.

Political advertisements, campaign rallies and election coverage dominated news headlines as voters focused on issues ranging from inflation and the cost of living to immigration, healthcare and the direction of federal policy.

Recent polling indicated that voter engagement was approaching historically high levels for a midterm election.

According to a Gallup survey released on Oct 29, 56 percent of registered voters said they were more enthusiastic about voting than usual, compared with 49 percent ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

The figure was the second-highest recorded by Gallup for a midterm election, behind 69 percent in 2018.

The survey also found that 56 percent of US adults had given considerable thought to the election, the highest level Gallup had recorded at a comparable stage of a midterm campaign.

Early voting figures also indicated strong participation. By Oct 29, more than 41 million ballots had been cast nationwide, according to data compiled by the University of Florida Election Lab.

Although high early-voting participation does not necessarily translate into record overall turnout, it reflects strong public interest in the election.

Economic concerns have remained central to the campaign. Despite easing inflation, persistently high living costs, particularly for groceries, housing, healthcare and transportation, continue to influence voters' priorities.

While preparations for Halloween appear more subdued in some neighborhoods, including my own, polling and early-voting figures point to unusually strong political engagement nationwide.

As Americans prepare for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, economic pressures appear to be shaping both household spending decisions and electoral priorities.