If there’s a problem with your intrusive neighbor, a pothole doubling the amount of stress in your life, or a safety issue at your child’s school, you’re not calling the president. You’re calling the local and state government, the ones you didn’t think it was important to vote for. It’s often a neglected fact due to the heat of election season, but local elections often affect you way more than the federal one. That’s why there must be a sense of urgency amongst our population to go out and vote on what is happening in our city so we aren’t just walking to the polls once every four years and neglecting our officials in our own neighborhoods.
We’re harassed on the daily during the presidential election season, every email and text message begging for our attention and if they could so kindly ask – our wallet. By the end of it, I don’t blame voters for putting all their energy into it and then leaving it in the dust, quietly resting until another four years have passed. But thanks to the electoral college system, the weight of the presidential election barely even rests with South Carolina voters- it’s mostly just with the seven swing states. It’s a fact that our vote matters more in local and state elections.
It’s usually natural disasters which showcase the true impact a local government can have. Hurricane Helene, for example, devastated South Carolina, particularly the upstate, which had local and state personnel camped here way before FEMA made its way down and way after as well. They provided food, took care of the injured, and removed trees from the streets so we could begin to go back to normal life once more.
Many of the issues Americans deem most important, such as abortion, healthcare, and education, are greatly impacted by who is elected into state and local governments. So what is a responsible voter to do? Since everyone can’t seem to tear themselves apart from their phone and the countless videos covering the federal election, I say follow local news sources that inform you about local candidates. The right content is out there, it just needs to be found by the right viewer!
Overall, it isn’t a crime to be invested in federal politics as they are important- and incredibly entertaining. However, there is a difference between being politically involved and being… persuaded by your phone to do something. When you go to the ballot box out of anger from something you saw online, you’re not thinking for yourself- you’re just doing what officials want you to do! But when you decide to begin research on your local and state officials, that’s when you become a free-thinker taking advantage of democracy and an advocate for yourself.
