Voting in local elections is a powerful tool for historically underrepresented and marginalized communities to make their voices heard and drive systemic change. However, low turnout in these elections is often the result of a lack of information about candidates and issues. Voters need to know that their votes matter and the candidates they elect will reflect their community’s needs, especially since many local elections are decided by a few hundred or even a few dozen votes.
The local government is where we live and the people we elect govern everything that impacts our daily lives from schools, to public safety, parks, roads, and how new businesses are developed. In addition, local elected officials create budgets that determine how funding is distributed for services like schools and emergency services, or whether books stay on school shelves or whether money is spent on a road repair. Local elected officials also decide how local governments interact with ICE.
Unfortunately, local elections are often held at odd times of the year and receive far less media attention than federal or state races. This makes it difficult for voters to find out when and where their local elections are taking place or what is at stake on Election Day. Civic education campaigns that highlight the importance of local elections and provide voters with comprehensive, nonpartisan information about candidate backgrounds, beliefs, stances on policies, and ballot questions are important in increasing voter engagement in these races.
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