While presidential and midterm elections grab all the headlines, local elections have a much more direct impact on your day-to-day life. From how your taxes are spent to who decides whether or not the potholes in your street will be fixed, elected officials at the local level make decisions that shape the community you call home. Voting is the best way to ensure that those decisions reflect your values.
Local elections also often see lower turnout than federal or national races, meaning that your vote really counts. In fact, in local races, a single vote can shift an election from someone who doesn’t have your best interests at heart to someone who does.
Additionally, your local representatives set the rules for how accessible elections are in your community. They determine voting hours, polling locations and the implementation of voter ID laws, among other things. By voting locally, historically marginalized communities can help elect leaders who prioritize equitable access to the ballot box, laying the groundwork for wider, long-term reform.
It’s also worth remembering that many of the most significant policy changes in history have started at the local level before gaining momentum at higher levels of government. This is because issues that affect the lives of people on a daily basis are largely decided at the local level – from education to healthcare, environmental initiatives to housing and public safety policies, and so much more. It’s vital that we vote local, and make sure that our tax dollars work for us.