Column: Election Day a great opportunity
One vote has a strong influence in local elections.
Published April 6, 2010
It's conventional wisdom that a lot of people don't vote because they feel that their vote doesn't count.
In all honesty, in larger elections and under the Electoral College rules, sometimes that can be true. But, arguments about electoral policy aside, when you get down on the local level, candidates can get elected and propositions can pass by pretty small margins.
Today is a local election day for Columbia. If you're not familiar with what's been going on in Columbia, this is a great chance to get informed. In addition to a lot of council and school board elections, Columbia will also be choosing a new mayor and voting on a very important proposition.
The average age of those who voted in the last few local elections in Columbia is 65. In a town that is practically overrun with college students, this really astounds me.
I personally remember registering quite a few young people to vote during my internship with a non-profit group and during the last presidential election. I know a lot of us are registered to vote here, and we are a formidable number.
If college students decided to get active in local politics, we could really do a lot of damage. There are a lot of things on the ballot and a lot of local issues that affect students in a big way. For example, anyone who frequents downtown Columbia establishments should probably decide how they feel about being under camera surveillance. Ever been to a party broken up by the police because of noise? City Council makes decisions about noise ordinances. Do you work in Columbia, outside MU? Commercial development is a big issue in the mayoral election.
We all spend money here in Columbia. Local taxes that create the revenue to fund our police force, public spaces and provide local services are set by the city council, and occasionally come up as propositions on local ballots.
Granted, local politics lack the razzle-dazzle of national politics. There tend to be fewer large ideological issues and more tedious rhetoric about development and finance; however, these are the issues and the policies that both have the most direct impact on residents and residents can have the most control over.
Maybe I'm just a huge nerd, but I get a lot of satisfaction out of voting. There's something really patriotic and rewarding about taking advantage of this really important right.
When you vote, you have a more personal stake in whatever the election outcome will be. And whatever you feel about the outcome, you are more likely to return to the polls to keep or change the status quo.
Although the deadline to register to vote for this election is passed, you can still change your address with the Boone County Clerk if you need to. You can even do this on the Internet, at the clerk's Web site. You can also get a sample ballot that shows all the issues and races up for a vote, and you can check where you're registered and where your polling location is.
Voting doesn't take too long, and in a town this size, it makes a big impact. I urge all people, students or otherwise, to take a few minutes and read up on the issues, and then take another few minutes and go vote. And after you vote, keep up with the results on the news or online. Maybe you'll see that just you and a few others ended up deciding an election.
Jordan Stein is a senior political science major and a campaign volunteer for Columbia mayoral candidate Sid Sullivan. She can be reached at jesf25@mail.missouri.edu