A presidential election year always gets a lot of attention. And while the presidential race is always a big deal, it can also feel frustrating. After all, depending on the makeup of your state, your vote at the top of the ticket might feel like it doesn’t matter a whole lot, thanks to the way the Electoral College works.
Regardless of how you feel about your vote for president, it’s worth noting that down-ballot races might matter more than you think—especially when you look at the direct impact local races can have on your everyday life.
Think about it. There’s a slim chance that you’ll ever meet the president, but city council members can have a meeting with you. In fact, not too long ago, community involvement saved a park on the Greenbelt by talking to local elected officials.
This approach has a chance to work at the state legislative level as well. As long as our representatives feel like they’ll be held accountable at the ballot box, they’re more likely to be responsive.
And that’s where we, as voters, come in. It’s rare for voter turnout to crack 40% in a non-presidential election year. That’s right. Less than 50% of eligible voters are choosing the people who do things like set library bounties and pass bills like SB1329, which mental health professionals say can be harmful to our youth.
The people who turn out are the people who influence elections. We might be frustrated that our legislators continue to try to push the school voucher boondoggle on us. But they feel like eventually they’ll be able to make it work on behalf of their special-interest benefactors because they’ll keep getting re-elected.
It’s not just about voting in a presidential election. We also need to pay attention to state and local elections. This year is a big year. In addition to president, candidates are running for Congress, state legislature, county commission and trustee boards. Even if you feel like your vote for president won’t make a difference, your voice is important to the other races.
Last year, a school board seat was decided by one vote. A single vote. We’ve had state legislative races here in Idaho decided by less than 100 votes.
Once we get through this election cycle, there will be more races next year, including for local offices.
At the state and local levels, your vote has a big impact. Your friends’ votes have a big impact. So don’t assume that if you can’t influence the presidential outcome you shouldn’t bother.
Absentee ballots are arriving in the mail right now. Early voting runs from October 21 to November 1. Election Day is November 5. Talk to your friends about the issues and candidates that matter to you. Encourage them to vote—and make sure your voice is heard.
Miranda Marquit, Master of Business Administration, is a nationally recognized financial wellness expert, writer, podcaster and speaker. She is vice chair of the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee.