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YOUR VOTE MATTERS
As voters, it is crucial to understand the importance of local elections – from city council, school trustees, mayors, and school boards – local elections deserve just as much attention and consideration as the presidential race and other federally elected positions.
It is the city council members who make decisions about where money goes and school boards who allocate more funding to local schools. On average, local elections tend to have a lower turnout when in fact, some of them may be even more important to everyday life.
The Mayor is the elected Executive, responsible for overseeing the city council. Depending on each city’s charter the Mayor may a variety of responsibilities including working with the city council and city manager to address issues including land use and development, housing, job programs or incentives, transportation policies, investment in parks or libraries to name just a few.
City Council members have the final vote in creating laws and approving a city budget. They may develop their own initiatives, as well as responding to the mayor’s proposals.
No one council member can make a change to city law — any change must be approved by a majority of the council members. a few responsibilities they might fulfill: A few of the responsibilities include making city policy, approving the budget, responding to residents, creating regulations, and reviewing city goals.
The school board is the link between the classroom and the community. They decide how and what students are learning by setting policies, curriculums, and budgets for the school district. Voting for school board members affects funding for programs like arts, music, and sports, the school calendar, and what time school begins and ends. They hire or fire school administration and set guidelines for employees. Your vote for the school board directly affects the education of students in K-12 schools.
Local elections are about the community. Don’t let the May 4 election pass without participating. Check for election day polling locations or vote early at the Election Center in Columbus or Weimar City Hall.
