Do you vote in local elections?

[Deleted]

Why or why not? 

It seems appalling to me that less than 10% of registered voters show up for our local elections even though presidential elections get 50%+ of the registered voters.

My life hasn't changed from Bush to Obama but who my local leaders are affects my property tax rates, what my parks look like, trash pick up, local road conditions and schools. 

In my area people can win a seat on the County Commission with 1000 votes in a a county with over 110k people. We have school committee races in August and the local 9-12/Americans for Prosperity group has managed to put a full slate of candidates up including 2 that are unopposed.

[redheadbaker]

Absolutely. I think the local government has more of an effect on my day to day life than federal.

[Velar Fricative]

Yes, I do. Local elections have more direct impacts on our lives so I'm in agreement with you that the low turnouts are frustrating.

[Deleted]

I wish more people would. People see national candidates and wonder how the hell such an asshole ever got that far. Uhm maybe because people weren't paying attention when that asshole was saying stupid shit while running for smaller offices.

[eclaires]

Yes, but I feel like it's pointless sometimes. Especially when my choices are dumb and dumber. Or crazy and crazier.

[Deleted]

Jun 9, 2014 7:14:04 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Yes, but I feel like it's pointless sometimes. Especially when my choices are dumb and dumber. Or crazy and crazier.

There is an apparent push on campus for students to register and vote against Campfield. 

My summer nanny is registered at school. 

[pamela]

Not usually. All of the local options are pretty much the same so it doesn't make much difference.

[secretlyevil]

Yes, I do some quick and basic research the weekend before.

[eclaires]

Jun 9, 2014 7:17:20 GMT -5 @septimus said:

Jun 9, 2014 7:14:04 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Yes, but I feel like it's pointless sometimes. Especially when my choices are dumb and dumber. Or crazy and crazier.

There is an apparent push on campus for students to register and vote against Campfield. 

My summer nanny is registered at school. 

He has two R challengers in the primary on August 7, it looks like.  I can't vote against him or for someone else, because we are just outside his district.  I want to commit voter fraud to vote against him.

ETA: and this is the Dem candidate who isn't opposed in the primary.


www.silerforsenate.com/

[ashleykdr]

Yes, but I don't always feel as informed as I would like. It's a lot harder to figure out who all the candidates are.

[FloFTW]

I just looked up the most recent election in May. There are 35,000 registered voters in the city. 4,774 voted. That's 13.6%.

I do vote in every election.

[pixy0stix]

Yes, unless the races are running uncontested.

[lasagnasshole]

It's pretty much all I can vote in now. I do wish local media did a better job of covering things beyond the mayoral and city council races, though. I had no idea what some of the positions on the ballot even were in April.

[eclaires]

AND, I was wrong - I am in Campfield's district now. I thought we were just outside of it. I can't wait to vote against that motherfucker.

I will say it looks like one of the R candidates running against him has a lot of support - I've seen events and such for him around. He's getting a lot of Farragut support.

ETA: this is like Christmas now!  I've already checked out info on the Rs running against him and the D who will be in the general election - I think I'm going to get a yard sign at the very least for the one guy.  It'd  be fantastic if he lost the primary.

[Deleted]

Jun 9, 2014 7:43:14 GMT -5 eclaires said:

AND, I was wrong - I am in Campfield's district now. I thought we were just outside of it. I can't wait to vote against that motherfucker.

I will say it looks like one of the R candidates running against him has a lot of support - I've seen events and such for him around. He's getting a lot of Farragut support.

ETA: this is like Christmas now!  I've already checked out info on the Rs running against him and the D who will be in the general election - I think I'm going to get a yard sign at the very least for the one guy.  It'd  be fantastic if he lost the primary.

His crazy colleague Casada has a challenger that is getting a lot of support. I hope he loses too. A pro-schools candidate is running against him and she could win the primary.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Yes. School board elections here get nasty and the current dynasty is a hot mess. That office more than any other affects our lives directly. This city has crazy high crime and poverty compared to the rest of the state, so local elections are particularly important to me.

[Deleted]

No, I honestly don't usually know when they are.

I did send back the ballot measure thing I got in the mail about funding a new school.

[soozy87]

Yes

[omgzombies]

Yes, although I've missed one or two because I didn't realize they when they were happening. I agree it's a lot harder to figure out who to vote for in the local elections, I usually end up going to everyone's website, trying to figure it out.

[katfco]

Yes, especially for issues. I feel like issues are the only things that really make a difference, sadly. Because of the outrageous gerrymandering, even local elections don't seem to make much difference.

[Melissa W.]

Yes. I am generally pretty involved it getting the word out.

[josieposy]

Not lately, no.

*hangs head in shame*

[Vespasia]

Historically I have not but I agree that local elections have much more of an impact on daily life than national ones.

I received my sample ballot for our upcoming primary and I do plan on voting. At least in the city, the primary is often all that counts since the democratic candidate is almost guaranteed the spot. We're also electing a new governor this fall so that primary is rather important.

[CrazyLucky]

No, not usually. I don't live in an incorporated city. I can vote for county commissioners, but I don't. The only time I vote in the off year elections (like 2013) is if there is a ballot question, like when they wanted to allow county wide sales of beer and liquor. The horror! Luckily, that was soundly defeated. Why let people buy beer locally when you can force them to drive 30 minutes or more?

[msmerymac]

I vote in all elections because my grandparents would come back and haunt me if I didn't.

[Deleted]

f/u questions-

Have you noticed more outside influence in local elections?

In our county commission race we had 3 candidates raise over 15k that were backed by AFP, all the other candidates combined didn't raise 15k and 3 raised about 15k ea.

[aurora]

To your original question, yes, except not in primaries because I refuse to register with either party and that's required here.

Jun 9, 2014 9:11:06 GMT -5 @septimus said:

f/u questions-

Have you noticed more outside influence in local elections?

In our county commission race we had 3 candidates raise over 15k that were backed by AFP, all the other candidates combined didn't raise 15k and 3 raised about 15k ea.

I actually haven't noticed this personally, but it's possible it's going on under the radar locally. The news reports of it happening around the country are quite alarming, though.

[Cicero]

Local elections are the reason I was a registered Dem when we lived in Upstate NY. The only actual contest happened in the Democratic primary and I wanted (and still want) to have a say in local government because it is so important.

[Knight]

Jun 9, 2014 7:43:14 GMT -5 eclaires said:

AND, I was wrong - I am in Campfield's district now. I thought we were just outside of it. I can't wait to vote against that motherfucker.

I will say it looks like one of the R candidates running against him has a lot of support - I've seen events and such for him around. He's getting a lot of Farragut support.

ETA: this is like Christmas now!  I've already checked out info on the Rs running against him and the D who will be in the general election - I think I'm going to get a yard sign at the very least for the one guy.  It'd  be fantastic if he lost the primary.

If he wins should we start our eclaires 2016 campaign?

[sam19]

Yes but I sometimes wonder why I do. Most are unchallenged republicans and it's impossible to find out any information on the candidates except a very limited amount that I can sometimes dig up through local papers.