Local elections decide who runs the vital services that millions rely on every day like schools, parks, libraries and bin collections. They also set policies that affect our daily lives, from planning and development to public safety and waste management.
In the past, major policy changes have started at the city and state level before growing into national movements. This is why it’s so important to vote in local elections – your voice is amplified. It’s common for local races to be decided by a few votes, and even a single vote can sway an election from someone who doesn’t have your best interests at heart to somebody who does.
Despite the importance of local elections, voter turnout in these elections remains significantly lower than in national ones, and there are several barriers that inhibit participation. One of the main factors is a lack of information about candidates, voting procedures and polling locations. This can lead to misinformation and confusion for voters, which erodes trust in our democratic system. Another factor is the influence of special interest groups, who can use their resources to fund campaigns and disseminate false information in order to suppress voter participation.
Lastly, the timing of local elections is a significant barrier. The majority of local elections are held in odd-numbered off-cycle years and do not run concurrently with federal and most statewide elections, which receive much higher voter turnout. This leads to a national party heuristic that crowds out other information about local candidates and issues, as well as a disproportionate share of the electoral landscape occupied by organized political parties and powerful interests. Moving local elections to even-year cycles would help mitigate these problems.