It’s the beginning of November, which means it’s election season. Although this year there is no general election, it is still important to vote in your local municipal elections if you are eligible, especially considering our current political state.
Voting for local officials is often overlooked and the voter turnout for such elections is significantly lower than that of presidential elections. Presidential elections are so heavily focused on in the media that local and municipal elections live in the shadows of the higher office elections.
The truth is, presidents don’t have as much impact on citizens’ lives as you think they do. Local officials are the ones who affect the lives of the citizens the most. They are the ones who create policies on things like reproductive rights, education and income taxes. The president doesn’t have a say in the budget for public schools in your area, financial plans for your city, or whether or not to make marijuana legal in your state.
It is even more important for you to vote in your local elections if you aren’t happy with the result of the 2016 presidential election. If Donald Trump doesn’t represent your morals and values, electing local officials who do is a way to make sure your voice is heard in the government. By voting for people who will protect the rights of the marginalized on the local level, you will be ensuring that there are more government officials who will change the country for the better. If your federal representatives aren’t making the changes you want to see, it is your local government’s responsibility to take action.
Voting in your local election is not only important for your community, but for the country as a whole. You have the power to create change in your country. So, do some research on who is running in your area, check your election date here and go exercise your right to vote.
