“Local government is the foundation of democracy, if it fails, democracy will fail.” — Political scholar Robert Flack
Few things make a local government journalist’s blood pressure rise quicker than hearing something described as an “off-year election.”
There is no such damn thing. (You need to imagine me shouting that as you read it.)
Every time Americans exercise their right to vote is sacred. It’s a right earned by the literal blood, sweat and tears of generations of our ancestors. It should never be taken for granted — and we should never pass up the chance to participate in our representative democracy.
Yet, we often do.
As we prepare for another “off-year election” on Nov. 4, let me say it again.
There are no damn off-year elections.
In fact, I would argue voters will make decisions next month that impact their lives far more than whoever lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Voters will elect school board members. Township trustees. Village council members. City council members.
They will make decisions on a variety of issues, including school levies, township road and fire department funds.
These are the kinds of election decisions that directly impact your local quality of life and your wallet.
You really have no legitimate excuse not to participate — given a month of in-person early voting and the ease of absentee ballots, if you so choose.
(Below: Richland County Board of Elections directors Matt Finfgeld and Jane Zimmermann are guests on the News Man Weekly podcast. The election discussion begins at about the 23:15 mark of the show.)
Toward that end, Ashland Source is about to launch a series of election preview stories.
But all of the information we share this month will not matter if you don’t exercise your right to vote and participate in your own governance.
Because there are no damn off-year elections.
