Voters elect local government officials to make decisions that affect their daily lives, from the roads they drive on to the books that are put in schools. They decide zoning laws, policing policies, school curricula, and a host of other matters.
But while many state and federal elections get high-profile coverage in the media, local officials are often overlooked, and voter turnout for local races struggles to reach 30%. While conventional wisdom is quick to ascribe low turnout to voter apathy, the truth reveals a much more complex picture.
In fact, research suggests that the underlying cause is more likely to be lack of civic education and election infrastructure challenges. Local government elections occur across the country in cities, counties, townships, school districts, and special purpose districts, among other entities. These jurisdictions are a critical component of our democracy and need to be supported by robust electoral infrastructure, including nonpartisan, publicly funded voter assistance programs.
A number of nonpartisan resources provide comprehensive information about local election candidates and ballot issues, like a candidate’s background, beliefs, and positions on various policy issues and topics. These online tools can help voters make educated and informed decisions when it comes time to cast their votes.
A range of barriers to civic engagement exist, and they are particularly prevalent in local politics. These include racial disparities in voter participation and the existence of “news deserts,” where no major local media outlets dedicate any significant coverage to politics. Educating voters on the importance of local elections and providing accessible resources during voting season can help increase voter participation, especially among historically marginalized communities.