Your Vote Matters
Your right to vote is protected by the United States Constitution but that right only matters if you use it.
Too often, many of us skip participation in Local Elections for the one big election: the Presidential Election. While it may feel like the most important race, it is actually the most removed from our day-to-day lives and has the least local impact. Elections closer to home such as School Board, Public Works, Mayoral, State Representative, and Gubernatorial races often shape our daily lives far more directly than a federal contests.
State and local officials make decisions that affect our schools, taxes, public safety, infrastructure, and community development. Because these elections are local in nature, the impact is immediate and personal. Yet turnout in local, municipal, and primary elections remains consistently low. In our most recent state election, voters had the opportunity to choose a Governor, School Board members, and other key local leaders. Still, participation lagged far behind national election turnout.
Low engagement has real consequences. With a 30% increase in Republican turnout, the last election outcome would’ve shifted dramatically. This raises an important question: are today’s election results truly reflecting the will of the community when so many citizens choose not to participate? Many skip these elections simply because they perceive them as less important but in reality, they may be the most influential in our everyday lives.
We invite you to join our Community Outreach Development Program to learn why active civic participation matters and how you can become more politically involved in your community or your neighborhood. Your voice matters. Your vote counts. And your local involvement makes a difference.
Join the NRCC Community Outreach Program (COP) to learn more about developing your own grassroots COG (Community Outreach Group).