Local elections – also known as town, city and county councils, assemblies or mayors – are about who manages vital services we all use including schools, parks, leisure centres, libraries, bin collections and disaster management. But unless you’re politically plugged in, it can be hard to understand what exactly is at stake.
The fact that local elected officials make decisions about every day life and that these decisions often have major impact makes it even more important to get out and vote in these elections. Yet, as research shows, voting participation rates are very low. These low levels of participation disproportionately affect marginalized communities and lead to policies that don’t reflect their interests.
While there are many barriers that contribute to low local election turnout, the most common one is the lack of awareness. To help address this, civic organizations and communities need to work together to promote the importance of local elections and increase voter education and engagement.
It is important to dispel the myth that one vote doesn’t matter. The reality is that the more people that vote, the stronger our democracy becomes.
State policymakers can also take action to boost turnout in local elections by moving them onto the same calendar as federal and statewide races. It is a simple reform that does not require amending the Constitution and saves governments money. This change can also make a real difference by increasing turnout among historically underrepresented groups such as communities of color, young people and the poor.