QOTD #56: Do you vote in local elections?

Yes I do. Not for Judges or any office I am not watching. Sheriff and county education, water board stuff like that

 

Thank you @genuinemommy for this thread.

I am an aspiring American. Brought to the United States as an immigrant child on my 6th birthday, previously I did not seen a compelling reason to go through the process of naturalization. The antics of our Congress (and my hardcore Canadian/somewhat anti-American mother's death) had me contemplating getting naturalized before Hillary's first term ended. Just seemed like a good idea. Everyone knows what came next.

Cannot vote yet, but I've picked up a new P/T paying gig and I am squirreling away the US $800 I need to begin the process. My goal is to vote in the 2018 midterm elections. I live in swing district #AZ01 which is currently held by Democrat Tom O'Halleran .
Everyone who is eligible to vote should do so as it is the biggest privilege and obligation of being American. I knew this intellectually prior to the 2016 presidential election. I know it viscerally now.
I am giving up something that means the world to me to become an American--my Canadian citizenship--to secure this right and privilege.
Some of the most inspiring Americans I've known have been naturalized citizens as well as the children of immigrants both first and second generation.

The local race I'm most focused on presently is AZ Congressional district 01 but since I'm pursuing citizenship I want to learn about being American so smaller elections around the country interest me too.

Just now I almost donated to this lovely person's nascent congressional campaign (her second try) because she is not Steve King--then I checked my bank balance. For now I'm cheering on @KimWeaverIA via Twitter. There are many local elections to care about. They all matter.

I know how it important it is to vote locally. The move here to a red state would have been enough for me to seek the privilege of voting, even if this new world order had not happened. After living in an affluent Chicago suburb I live in another affluent suburb (this one in the city of Phoenix). But here poverty is very close as I literally live next to an Indian reservation. Twenty-five percent of the population in my district is Native American. Sixteen percent Latinx. They have voices but it is not reflected in them voting, that needs to change. We have awful public schools, we are fucking this lovely desert environment, we live on the border with Mexico and have many immigrants. There are so many challenges. I have opinions but I have to vote to have a voice.

EDIT
To stay abreast of local politics, type in the name of your town and the word "news" then click through and read. Keep doing that. Learn. Participate civically the way that best suits you. Vote.

 

Excellent post, @Fangirl.

The "small" positions are about the only raccces where my non-Republican vote matters.

 

I would like to see some changes in county election laws. I believe a person should be a real property owner. No renters should vote in a local election. As a land or property owner you are personally, financially invested in your county, and plan to live there long term.

 

That would go against federal laws. What would happen to Renter's Rights? Our constitution has evolved over the years to give voting rights to as many people as possible, which is meant to challenge the status quo.....such as property owners having and keeping laws in their favor.

 

I appreciate you saying so.

This would never fly. What I find most hard to believe is that a person's plan to live somewhere "long term" couldn't be upended by loss of a job for example.

 

No surprise to those who know me, I haven't missed voting in an election in decades. With one single exception, I have never in my life missed voting in any election for which I was eligible.

We have long ballots in this state, with many elected offices and many ballot proposals. I vote in every race, except where candidates I don't support are unopposed.

Most of the people who appear on the ballot for local offices, I know personally.

My friends call me to ask who to vote for, on things like community college board. Unfortunately, sometimes I am so ambivalent about specific individuals that I don't have a clear answer.

In my opinion, judges should not be elected, but as long as they are, I will vote for and support the judicial candidates I prefer.

Every one of you reading this, regardless how ignorant you think you are, is more knowledgeable than the average voter. Don't abdicate your responsibility.