The Forgotten Local Elections

It is a common belief that people do not vote because they do not think that their vote actually matters. And in a large-scale presidential election, maybe one vote out of millions really doesn’t matter. However, in the elections that really count, people do not even think about voting. Local elections effect each and every one of us individually, while presidential elections may just effect the nation as a whole. However, voter turnout in local elections is decreasing rapidly, possibly because either people just don’t know enough, or again they don’t think that their vote matters.

In reality, in local elections every single vote counts. In a mayoral election last year in Bangor, Pennsylvania the incumbent candidate, Joe Capozollo, was reelected by only one vote (LehighValleyLive). This close margin is common in local elections since the district is smaller and voter turnout is much smaller as well. But still, people are not convinced that their vote matters enough to go out to the polls. It could be a lack of education, but we seem blame everything on a lack of education. So this time, we’re going to look at the money.

Local elections aren’t as widely spoken about or advertised nearly as much as large-scale elections. This problem could be prolonged by the fact that there is a lack of money in smaller and more local elections. Money runs politics: elections and even the parties. Political parties get out the vote and educate the public. However, with lack of funding from the national parties, it is difficult to fund these small elections and get out the vote.

Ondrusek, Lynn. "Joe Capozollo Leads Bangor Mayoral Race by One Vote after 2013 Election Results Are Delayed by Voting Machine Problems." Lehighvalleylive.com. November 6, 2013. Accessed October 1, 2014. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/slate-belt/index.ssf/2013/11/joe_capozollo_leads_bangor_may.html