Getting people to go out and vote is already one of the harder things to do in the United States of America. For some reason, people tend to think that their vote doesn't matter, and that voting is a waste of time. While people can sit around and debate how the voting process of presidential elections actually works, one thing is for sure: your vote is extremely important when it comes to local elections.
I know what you're thinking: Why should I care about local elections? Well, the truth is that local politics easily has the biggest effect on your life. The roles and responsibilities of City Council will differ from place to place. However, they all play a role in determining the city's safety, education system, and lack of transparency. These three things are actually some of the more important aspects of our everyday life, and definitely three things that every single person can have an opinion on. When it comes to making a change, though, many people will believe that there is nothing to be done. These are the people who will not vote.
I've worked on a few local campaigns, and I remember knocking on doors and people not realizing that the election was even coming up. This shows that there truly is a flaw in the electoral system that the United States centers itself around. This flaw is that not enough emphasis is put on the power of the vote. The millennial generation has been given the rap that they won't accomplish anything, but expressing this power of our vote can absolutely change that opinion. We have the means to spread the word about our local politics, and make a change for the type of country we want to live in.
How do we do this? Continue to use social media as a way to express yourself, but instead of talking about how great lunch was, talk about how you want to see an improvement in our public transportation. Instead of sitting behind your computer or phone screen believing that there isn't anything we can do to change the world, research your local councilmen and women are and tell your friends about their policies. A quick update about something you agree or disagree with has the power to strike up a conversation amongst thousands. All we need to do is get up and get out to vote.
