The following article was excerpted from The Hill and was written by Becky Kip, the founder and CEO of Hear My Voice, a mobile-first civic engagement platform.
Voting for the president is often the first thing that comes to mind when most of us think of taking political action. While it’s true that voting for the highest office is important, the changes that most affect our day-to-day lives are often closer to our backyards than to Washington. I’m talking about local elections.
While presidential campaigns get most of the media spotlight, the president doesn’t have as much of a direct impact on the lives of citizens as you might think. Our local elected officials are the ones who set local laws, policies and budgets that affect us the most, and these officials are being elected every year with little citizen involvement.
If you’ve spent most of your time focusing on national politics, you’re not alone. Voting for mayor, and your city council, could mean the difference between creating the change you want to see or keeping with the status quo.
Your voice, represented
While voters may care about the issues, especially national ones, participation in local voting continues to drop. In 2011, less than 21% of cities' voting-age population cast ballots, compared to an average of 26.6% in 2001. While frustration with national voting reaches a peak, it’s local elections that give voters the greatest opportunity to have their voices heard. Increasing voting in local elections can be a game-changer. Increases in voter turn out at a local level can lead to laws that are more reflective of how citizens feel.
So make a plan and vote in your local Mayor, City Council, and School Board races on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.
Just 1 in 5 voters participate in local elections like the one Iowans are about to have on Tuesday, November 5. Low rates of voting mean only a few of your neighbors get a say in who will represent them on some of the issues that have a direct influence on your life. Voting in local elections means your vote at the local level can have an even bigger impact.
This is the first year that the school board elections, elctions for the people that make decisions about your local school district, and city elections are combined. So what makes these local elections so important? How do they actually affect our lives?
When you send your kids to school, or you walk around your community, you see your property tax dollars at work. Your city council has a lot of power over what your community looks like and how you are able to get around in it. Many city council and school board races are won (and lost) by just a few votes; your votes matter!
Iowans will vote for their local elected officials on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Polls are open