Why Local Elections Matter

WHY EVERYONE SHOULD VOTE IN A LOCAL ELECTION

Election Day is less than a week away, and it’s time to plan how you are going to vote. Too often, people skip their local elections, believing they are less important than national and state contests. Nothing could be further from the truth! Unlike state and national elections, local elections have much more impact on the quality of your daily life.

Here’s why everyone should make the effort to come out and vote on Tuesday, November 5th in Stamford’s city elections:

  • It’s all about YOU. No, really it is. The people you’re voting for this year –Board of Finance, Board of Education, 1 special election for Board of Representatives District 14 –are the ones that determine the quality of your neighborhood, schools, roads, where buildings will be built, how your water and land will be used or protected—and most importantly, how your taxes will be spent.
  • It’s about the future of Stamford. This year we are electing half of the Board of Finance and almost half of the Board of Education. Both Boards will have a large role in deciding how we are going to address the mold issues in our schools and even whether we continue to own our schools, or go to a privatization model for the buildings.  This is a chance for your vote to really shape the direction of both Boards.
  • It’s about access and accountability. The local candidates vying for these positions live in your area and are more interested in YOUR concerns than state and national politicians who must focus on bigger picture issues. Also, local elections are oftentimes decided by a handful of votes.

Your vote is your voice, don’t waste it by missing an election, make it a habit to vote every year—in every election.  If you need more information about the positions that are up for election, go to our website www.lwvstamford.org and check out our new series “What Is It and Why It Matters.” Our Voter’s Guide is available at www.stamfordelections.com where you can see how candidates responded to our questions and view election night reporting.

Kristine Goldhawk, Steering Committee Member, League of Women Voters of Stamford.