In America, we have the privilege of voting all of our elected officials into office. National elections determine major positions such as the presidency, and in comparison, local elections may seem unimportant and you may consider skipping them. However, local elections are incredibly important for your community. Here are three reasons you should vote in them.
Your Vote Makes a Difference
There are more than 328 million people in the United States. With everyone voting in the presidential election and the electoral college often beating out the popular vote, your vote doesn’t seem to have an impact. Local elections, however, are much different. Every vote counts because there is no electoral college. The candidate with the most votes wins.
For this reason, it is important to do as much research as possible for candidates. If you are voting for a judge such as Judge Mike Tawil, make sure his political interests and values align with yours. You also want to ensure that your chosen candidate has strong leadership skills. Because your vote makes a difference in a local election, knowing about the person you are voting for is essential.
Local Government Has a Direct Impact On Your Life
The people you vote for in local elections will have a direct impact on your community. These mayors, judges, school board members and other officials decide on ordinances and policies that affect the way you live. If you choose not to vote in local elections, you have no say in how your community is run. If you vote but do not take the time to research the candidates, you could vote in someone whose vision for the community is vastly different from yours.
Take, for example, the position of a judge. You want to elect someone who is fair and committed to justice, such as Judge Mike Tawil. If you hold conservative values, you may not want a liberal judge and vice versa. However, it is important to remember that voting strictly along party lines does not necessarily ensure you choose the right person for the job. It is a better practice to judge each candidate based on his or her vision for the community. If that vision aligns with yours, then that person should get your vote.
Local Elections Affect the Federal Government
If you are not satisfied with the national leaders that are elected in America, you can still make a difference in the nation by first changing your community. Many radical movements, including environmental protection and women’s suffrage, began as local issues that gained national attention. Vote for the people who want to make your community a better place and are not afraid to make radical decisions when necessary. This could inspire other communities to do the same and in that case, it will not be long before the movement catches the attention of the federal government.
Although you may be tempted to skip voting in local elections because they do not seem equally important as national elections, it is not a good idea if you want to enrich your community. Make it a practice to do your part in every local election so you can be confident your community has the leaders it needs.