By Laura Jackson
Right now, just about everything we see, read or hear in the news relates in some way to the upcoming presidential election. We are inundated with messages about campaign strategy, candidates’ past behavior (or more often misbehavior), and promises of future actions that will fix our problems and make our lives better.
Whomever is elected president in November will no doubt make important decisions; however, our local elected officials play much more critical roles in our everyday lives. But history shows us that citizens are much more likely to vote for the U.S. president than they are their town or city’s mayor, such as Tyler Mayor Don Warren or Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley.
According to the Pew Research Center, 66% of the voting-age population voted in the most recent presidential election. In contrast, a study on mayoral elections in the 107 largest U.S. cities found an average turnout of about 25%. Specifically in Texas, 52% of the voting-age population participated in the 2020 presidential election while 20 of the Texas cities in the study reported municipal election turnouts of less than 10% of registered voters, with Garland coming in at just 3.5% participation in one race.
These numbers suggest voters do not value the role local elected officials play in our everyday lives. But we do so at our peril.
Local government is responsible for essential services like waste collection, water, public safety and emergency services. It maintains local roads, parks and public buildings, ensuring our communities function smoothly, safely and efficiently. When these services are well-managed, we experience a higher quality of life, with clean streets, reliable public services and safe neighborhoods.
In terms of public health, local governments manage health departments that provide vital services such as vaccinations, health education and disease prevention programs. During public health crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments are on the front lines, coordinating response efforts, disseminating information, and ensuring the safety and well-being of their communities while balancing important personal liberties.
Need another reason to get involved? How about your pocketbook? Economic development is another critical area where local governments make a significant impact. By creating business-friendly environments, local governments can attract new businesses and support existing ones, fostering job creation and economic growth. They often offer incentives such as grants and infrastructure improvements to encourage businesses to set up shop in our communities.
Finally, local government matters because it is the level of government closest to the people. Just ask yourself this: Who is easier to call, the president of the United States or your city councilperson? Residents can readily attend city council meetings, participate in public hearings, and serve on local boards and commissions. These opportunities allow us to voice our opinions, influence local policies and contribute to the decision-making process. And it’s a lot easier to hold someone accountable in an election measured by dozens, hundreds or thousands of votes instead of tens of millions.
So next time you have the opportunity to vote in a local election, educate yourself on the candidates and go to the polls! And take a few friends with you. Our communities rely on us to fulfill our civic duty. Local government matters and your vote does, too.
To find out more about elections in your county, how to get registered, and where to vote, visit sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/links.shtml#County and click on your county.
This op-ed was written by Laura Jackson, Ph.D. and originally posted on Tyler Morning Telegraph.