Vote Local

We always hear of the benefits, virtues, and civic duty (both economic and social) related to supporting our local community through patronage of local business: “Buy Local”.  I have no problem with that.  I support local business as much as the next guy, but what I don’t completely understand is why this principle of local responsibility does not translate to political participation: “Vote Local”.

Previously I had posted on the importance of winning locally and how political involvement and success at the local level directly translates to extended success at the state and national level.   Today’s post is devolution of this concept: to win locally, you must first vote locally.

Early voting has begun for the May 8th municipal elections in the vast majority of the towns and cities across Texas.  These elections represent the most direct and consequential control we have over the instruments of government that are closest to us.  Unfortunately, statistically speaking the results of these elections have traditionally been the least representative (or at best ambiguously indicative) of the people’s will simply due to woefully low voter turnout numbers.  Voter turnout in Travis County, Texas in last year’s local elections hovered at around 6% with several races and propositions being decided by 15 votes or less.
Mind you, that’s of registered voters.  Seriously think about that… theoretically it could break down like this:  In a community of 25k eligible voters where 75% of them are registered to vote and only 6% of those registered turn out to vote in their local election, only 1,125 citizens are actually participating in the process of selecting who will be making important local decisions on behalf of the entire community of over 25,000 people.

If you’re really looking to make a direct political impact in your community, educate yourself on the local issues and candidates and vote in your local election!  Relatively speaking, your vote as part of the 6% or 7% participating in a local election has far greater proportional impact than in a statewide or national election.  Additionally, by wielding your local vote, you exercise far more control over your immediate environment than you do by, say, voting for Congress… and for the most part, local elections occur every year allowing for a increasingly malleable political landscape.

Imagine if commonsense conservatives decided to take ownership of their local elections.  Encouraging good candidates to run for school board and city council, helping them campaign, and then turned out in mass to get them elected… How much of your tax dollars would be saved or spent more wisely?  How many useless ordinances would not come into existence?  How long would it be till this tradition of conservative values found its way to the State House… to Washington?

Bottom line:  Vote Local