Politics can be sticky, tricky, and divisive, but they’re necessary. The concept of laws has existed for thousands of years. Indeed, representative government and democracy go all the way back to Ancient Greece and Rome. Today, U.S. citizens have the right to raise their voices in each election cycle. Thus, it’s important to learn to navigate local elections, so you can help create a space you’re proud and happy to live in. Here’s what you need to know:
Reader's Roadmap
What’s on the Ballot
At its most basic, an election is about voting on issues. Many people get caught up in who’s running for president and forget everything else. The sad reality is that, unless you live in a swing state, many will say your vote won’t technically matter in the federal election. After all, the Electoral College decides the presidential election. Also, presidents don’t typically make a ton of changes in each term as they don’t have a lot of power on their own.
Where your vote does matter, and can make a huge difference, however, is on your local ballot. The people on your city council can alter the state of the city you live in. Your school district officials have an impact on kids’ education in your city. And issues like minimum wage and rent control can save or ruin lives. To get involved in local elections, you’ll need to know what’s on the ballot this election cycle. You can typically find a quick rundown, like the Los Angeles voter guide, online.
What the Issues Are
Now that you’ve got a list of what’s on the ballot, you’ll need to do some investigating. In each election cycle (that’s every two years), you get to vote on local issues. These can be anything from prison terms for specific crimes to funding for local public works projects. A few years ago, California voters had to vote on whether to shorten prison terms for non-violent offenders. Proposition 57, passed in 2016, aimed to reduce prison terms but sparked controversy due to concerns that some serious crimes, not legally defined as violent, could lead to early parole consideration for individuals convicted of those offenses.
Prop 57 is just one example of an issue that could be on your local ballot, which could have a huge impact on your community. It’s important to study the issues, listen to the arguments for and against, and decide what makes the most sense to you. In the case of Prop 57, many voters didn’t realize some forms of rape were not considered violent crimes. So, it’s at least as important to get educated on the issues as it is to vote for (or against) them.
Who’s Running
In addition to voting on issues, you’ll also be voting for people. Every two years, you have to vote for your U.S. House Representative for your district. Every four years, you’ll vote for your state senator. These representatives make up Congress, the legislative body of the U.S. government — they pass the laws. You’ll also vote for people like your city councilmen or women, local judges, and your District Attorney — all people who can affect your daily life.
It’s important to get to know the people you’re thinking of voting for. Pay attention to what they support, what they are in favor of, and what they want to do in your community. It is the job of those you elect to work for you. They take your concerns to Congress and fight for you (ideally). For example, if you want women’s reproductive rights to become a constitutional amendment, it takes an act of Congress to get that done. You give enormous power to your elected officials.
How to Dig a Little Deeper on Issues and Candidates
If you’re struggling to know who to believe (and who can blame you?), you can look beyond what they say and look at what they do. Many people running for local office will stand on their past record. Look at offices they’ve held, votes they’ve cast, and legislation they’ve passed. Even if they haven’t held political office before, you can see what kind of jobs they’ve done. It might be a good idea, for example, to elect a teacher or administrator to the school board.
You can also learn a lot about a candidate or an issue by looking at where the funding is coming from. For example, it’s no surprise Prop 57 passed in California in 2016. After all, it was backed by Governor Jerry Brown, an elected leader much beloved by Democrats in the state. In general, if you trust the person supporting a candidate or issues, you can vote accordingly. Yet, Prop 57 included a loophole — one voters are trying to tie up in the coming election. You can’t always assume your opinions align with one person, or even one party. Dig into each issue.
How to Register and Vote
Finally, to truly navigate local elections, you’ll need to register to vote and figure out where to go to cast your ballot. Election day is November 5, so you’ll want to either send your ballot in by mail or head to your local polling place. If you’re not sure where to go, you can check out vote.org, which will help you find your specific location. If you’re not registered yet for this year, your deadline has likely passed, but you can still pay attention and prepare for the next election.
You can typically register to vote through your Department of Motor Vehicles when you apply for or renew your license. You can also get started online through vote.gov. One of the best practices you can put into place as a voter is to try to remain logical and practical as you cast your vote. Think about what matters to you, to your friends and family, and to your community, and support the candidates and issues that align with your values.
Truly, your vote, even for President, does matter. If you think about it, one single vote might not make a difference, but a million single votes, combined, can change the face of a nation. After all, the President appoints the Supreme Court Justices, who can overturn laws passed by Congress, like federal protections for a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion. And your local officials determine how to uphold and enforce laws. Every election matters, every vote counts, and learning to navigate these local elections is critical to casting a responsible vote. You can do this.