Local elections have significant power to impact the lives of voters and residents. They decide on everything from public safety to infrastructure and environmental policies. They also elect the people who safeguard democratic processes, and whose success often inspires broader change in state and federal levels of government. Local governments also play a critical role in dismantling barriers to participation that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Yet local elections receive much less media attention than national and statewide races, and voter turnout is typically half as high. As a result, a small percentage of voters make decisions that have a profound impact on their community. This is why it is so important for citizens to participate in local elections and ensure their vote counts.
A common reason people give for not voting is that they believe their voice does not matter. In order to combat this belief, civic educators can create materials that educate citizens about the significance of local government and the power of their vote. Educators can distribute these materials through websites, email notifications, social media platforms, and local news outlets. They can also host candidate forums and debates to help citizens become more familiar with candidates and their positions on issues.
Getting involved in local elections is also a great way to build community support for democracy and help voters become more informed. Often, political activism starts on the local level, and some of the most significant policy changes in history began at the city or county level before growing into national movements.
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