Dr. David Childs, D.D. Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
A poll worker hands out “I Voted Today” stickers in Washington, D.C., in 2012. Journalist Ari Berman says a 2013 Supreme Court ruling opened the door for new voting restrictions that disproportionately affect poor people, young people and people of color.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
In the US when the average person thinks about voting, their focus is often on the presidential election that happens every four years. In other words the 50-60% of people that vote tend to not participate in the election until a national presidential contest comes along. While the presidential election is very important, midterm and local elections are arguably just as important and in some cases more important. With an election upon us there will be many important contests across the country at the local level, including mayor and governor races, voting for a local judge or opportunities to vote for those filling a city council seat. We are republishing an article from 2019 that addresses the importance of even the smaller contests during election season. The article also provides many classroom resources to help students understand democratic processes and voting.
Originally Published November 4, 2019
Does My Vote Count? The Importance of Voting in Off-Year Elections
Introduction
What is an off-year election? An off-year election is a general election that is held when neither a presidential election nor a midterm election takes place. Sometimes the term is also used to refer to midterm election years. When people in the United States think of voting they often think of participating in the national presidential election. However, the city, county and state elections, as well as congressional races can be just as important as presidential elections. The local races in small townships, villages or cities are often determined by just a few votes. So yes, your vote does count. It is true that your vote may have less of an impact in the general presidential election; but it can have a very large and more direct affect in the local or county elections.
Your Vote Greatly Influences Local Elections
There are many other elected positions on various levels that affect the everyday lives of the American people, but all too often many Americans sit on the sidelines during midterm or off-year elections. Important contests such as state governor and mayoral races to city council and school board have a major impact on the day to day lives of average citizen. Local elections can affect school funding, property taxes, zoning, law enforcement, educational curriculum, city parks and recreation, local businesses, waste collection, sports arenas, public health, charity and benevolence, religious centers, abortion debates, adult business zoning, marijuana laws, and many more aspects of our daily lives. Thus, it is very important that every American citizen educate themselves on the candidates and vote intelligently. This is a major component of a democratic society, an essential component of a successful democracy.
Previous Democracy and Me Articles on Elections
As we have said, with the upcoming election season it is important that people understand the important role informed citizens play when exercising their right to vote. In light of it being election season I would like to draw the reader’s attention to previous articles we have done on the Democracy and Me site around the topic of elections and voting.
Two such articles are entitled Congressional, State, and Local Elections Voting in a Democracy- Lessons on Voter Suppression and What are the Midterm Elections All About? A resource that also offers good information about local elected offices is Who Runs the Show? Understanding Your Local Government.
Research Your Options and Vote
It is important that people get out to vote and not simply wait for the presidential election. Here is a good resource to find important information about voting and upcoming elections in your hometown. Also, below I have included some resources on elections and voting that can help voters better understand the issues and also receive some general information about the democratic process. I will also provide resources for teachers to use to inform students about voting in their classrooms.
Off Year Election Resources
So, You Want To Run For Local Office
Off-Year Elections
United States Midterm Election
Understanding Congressional, State, and Local Elections
Off-Year Election Preview: Is It All About Partisanship?
What is an Off-Year Election?
Voting Lesson Plans
Off-year Election Lessons
Elections and Civics Lesson Plan
Citizen Advocacy Center
Ten Ways to Teach About Election Day
Mini-lesson: Midterm Elections (HS)
Do the midterm elections matter? – Worksheet
Seven Ways to Teach the Midterms With The New York Times
I decided to look at the article, “Here is Why Your Vote Counts: The Importance of Voting Every Election Cycle.” I picked this article because I have many people in my life who do not vote, and the title intrigued me. It makes sense why some people say, “My vote doesn’t even count,” because there are so many people voting. But this article does a great job explaining how your vote does count. I liked how this article mentions how your vote impacts you locally and can impact the environment around you. It’s also important to realize that a lot of people might think the same thing about voting, and then that leads to hundreds and thousands of people not voting. All those people not voting could’ve changed the vote.
I’ve been told many times throughout my life that my vote counts but I never took it to heart until recently. I hadn’t realized the importance of voting for elections other than the presidential election. I agree voting for your state’s mayor or governor is almost more important considering change happens on a closer level. In the future I plan to do more to vote and make my opinion heard.
I never understood how important it was to vote until my earl adulthood. I always thought that
not everyone’s votes counted and that it was rigged by poll workers. I initially thought that the only reason we voted, was to elect the new president, but it obviously goes much further than that. This article helped me understand how voting can influence our local elections and building up a successful democracy. I wish I had understood this in my earlier adult life, so I could apply the knowledge and feel that my opinion and vote does matter.
The right to vote is a privilege that we should all participate in, if for no other reason (and there are A LOT of reasons, mind you, but still) than to honor those that have come before us who were denied said right. Voting is an honor that many have died for. It is our duty to uphold that honor.
I have always been told that my vote counts, but I used to have a thought that if I didn’t vote there would be no difference. The election wouldn’t come down to a one vote difference. I feel like a lot of people have that mindset. If people stopped having that mindset, the numbers would add up and they would see that their vote does matter.
Throughout my life, people have emphasized the importance of voting to me. My high school talked to us about how important voting was each year. My parents took me to vote in my first election that I was able to vote. They made sure to help me understand the importance and significance that voting has on society. They always help me research the options in order to make the most informed voting decisions. After reading this article, I agree that a lot of people do not take voting as seriously as it should be taken, especially on the local level elections. People should research and understand the impact of each voting opportunity.
I agree that people need to vote in every election. Nothing is more irritating than people complaining about the officials in office when they chose to not vote. I personally believe that voting during the nonpresidential voting periods is more important since our state governments have more power than people realize.
I’ve never really thought about voting because I thought my vote didn’t really count but this article made me reconsider that idea. Anytime voting is mentioned, I’ve only really heard about the presidential election and not the state election. I feel as though I don’t know enough about government to vote but with a little research on local candidates I feel as though my vote could make a difference where I live. If more people were to vote, instead of the 50-60% that do, we might be able to actually make a change that we’ve been wanting to see for years.
Growing up I have always been preached to vote when I got the chance too. My parents would always tell me ” it is a privilege to have the right to vote.” After reading this article I believe that is kind of what this article is saying too. If you have the ability too vote then you need to take advantage of it because every vote truly does matter.
We often put an elected individual at fault for the overall effects of things that affect us in everyday life, but disregard the fact that this could have been avoided if we encouraged more people to vote. It may not seem like it matters now because it seems as if everyone has their agenda, but eventually the domino effect will occur, so everyone can benefit.