Every year, election day falls on “the Tuesday next after the first Monday on the month of November,” or more simply, the first Tuesday after Nov. 1. This year, it falls on Nov. 5.
Election day is every year, not only every four years when there is a presidential election or every two years for midterms. Election day is every year, and you should be voting, even during off-years.
The elections that happen during off years are often just as important as midterms and presidential years, not because of the gravity of your vote, but because the people you elect during off years are often the people that will affect your daily life more.
More often than not, a presidential or congressional election will not change your day-to-day life. And since voter turnout is generally lower during off-years, your vote can make a much larger difference.
Off-year elections usually include special elections, mayoral elections, city council elections, elections for the district attorney and school board elections. Each of these positions dictate how your city, town or district are run.
Similar to federal elections, local elections usually elect an executive leader (mayor), a committee of legislative elects that include the school board members and a judicial branch represented by the attorneys general. By truly understanding these candidates’ roles in your community, you can understand their impact on the community.
The mayor is responsible for daily operations. They appoint and dismiss key department heads including the police and fire department. They are also in charge of addressing issues including: land use and development, housing, job opportunities and transportation. They are also responsible for the introduction of the community’s budget. Their terms last four years.
The local legislative is represented by a multitude of outlets including the city council and the school board. Similar to the American Congress, the council members have the final vote on the budget and local laws. They are also allowed to develop their own laws to propose to the mayor along with the ability to veto mayoral proposals. Members of the council also serve for four years.
The school board is the direct connection between the schools and the community. They decide curriculum, policies and budgets for the school district. They impact what students learn and how future students may end up impacting the community. They also have the ability to hire and fire principals and teachers. Board members’ term lengths are fixed, so they can vary from two to four years.
The final major elect is the attorney’s general. They are the chief enforcer of local laws. They generally deal with felonies and give key sentencing recommendations. They are especially important in police cases involving misconduct and elected people’s felonies.
The people you elect on Tuesday Nov. 5 will affect your daily life more than any president or senator will. And if you were too late to fill out an absentee ballot, you can always vote locally.
Voting is one of the key rights that we are given as citizens in our democracy. When thousands lack the privilege, it only seems to fit to carry out our civic duty.
Matthew Villanueva is the opinon editor at The Bona Venture.
His email is villanjv18@bonaventure.edu
