Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
Local elections are often overlooked, especially when they happen simultaneously with federal elections.
Local elections have a lower voter turnout than federal elections, according to an article from the National Civic League. Sixty-six percent of the eligible voting population voted in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Pew Research Center.
In contrast, 32% of the voting-age population vote in the council elections, and 28% of the voting-age population vote in the mayoral elections on average, according to the Public Policy Institute of California Survey.
Low voter turnout in local elections is probably due to factors such as a “lack of campaign spending, low voter mobilization and the consequent decrease in media coverage,” according to a Harvard Politics article.
Media coverage can be especially influential toward the outcome of an election. Millions of voters do not have access to reputable local news outlets. Additionally, some of these voters live in “news deserts,” counties that do not have a local news outlet, according to the Brennan News Center.
When the public is not educated on local issues, it is difficult for them to develop a passion for problems within their community. It is challenging to incentivize people to vote if they do not want to make change in their neighborhoods.
An increase in local news coverage could solve the problem of low local election turnout. News outlets could inform the public on issues that local governments solve.
Local governments are responsible for a variety of factors that impact citizens’ daily lives. They oversee areas such as “parks and recreation services, police and fire departments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, transportation services (including public transportation), and public works,” according to an article from the White House.
Additionally, many Americans lack vital education on the powers of local government.
Johns Hopkins University performed a 2018 study to survey Americans’ civic knowledge, specifically relating to government jurisdictions. Twenty-five percent of participants did not know whether federal or state government controlled law enforcement. Thirty percent of participants did not know who was responsible for creating and enforcing zoning laws, according to a Harvard Politics article.
I have first-hand experience with the importance of local governments.
The past two summers, I interned at the district office for a California state senator. I served constituents in my county as well as observed government workers’ genuine efforts to help the public.
Contrary to popular belief, I observed the employees in our office actively working to improve conditions in our county. They worked tirelessly after standard working hours and on weekends. I was inspired by their determination to fix problems for hopeless people.
Common state senator casework includes aiding constituents in applying for Social Security and applying for U.S. citizenship, according to an article from the Congressional Research Service.
These cases, alongside many others, can have life changing effects for constituents. When our office obtains people’s social security money, we ensure they have the necessary funds to live. When our office assists someone in applying for citizenship, we make it possible for them to permanently live in the United States.
The constituent services team at the office I served at specifically solved many cases with the Employment Development Department. During the Covid-19 pandemic, our office assisted 4,000 families in cases with EDD.
If I was in the position of one of these constituents, I would care more about who my state senator is than who my president is because my state senator is the one who directly ensures I have a job, a place to live and food on the table.
Unfortunately, many constituents are not aware that our office performs these tasks. People are often dissatisfied with government services because they do not know where to look to find relief.
Voter education on the influence of local government will increase voter turnout for local elections. Additionally, people routinely taking advantage of local governments’ resources can increase local government voting participation.
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Contact Caitlin Murray via email: caitlin.murray@pepperdine.edu
