The President is NOT the Only Person We Elect! [View all]

[MineralMan]

Sometimes, here on DU, it seems like the only elected official many care about is the President, and action during elections and what leads up to elections depends on their opinion of the President. That's unfortunate, and correctable.

On every election ballot, there are many names. Every four years, there are also the names of the Presidential candidates, but it is all those other names that matter even more, and in every area of concern.

School Board Members
City Council Members
County Board Members
Mayors
Sheriffs
District Attorneys
Secretaries of State (they run the elections)
State Legislative Candidates
State Senate Candidates
Members of the House of Representatives
U.S. Senators
Plus candidates for every other elected office

Each one of those offices is important, either locally, statewide, or nationally. In many cases, and for many issues, they are far more important than the President, who actually has little power to make laws. The people elected to those other offices are also the pool from which candidates for higher office are generally selected.

When I see someone say that they're not going to vote or won't vote for Democrats, I think about those other candidates. A non-voter doesn't play a role in the election of any of those people. A voter who refuses to vote for Democrats may rule out a win for a more local candidate who is running as a Democrat. How can people make such a mistake?

More importantly, deciding who runs for those other offices is something that happens locally. The local Democratic Party generally is who selects the candidates, endorses them, and helps assure their election. Being involved at a local level gives you a voice in that process. It also gives you access to candidates and potential candidates. You get to be part of the process from the very beginning. It's surprising how few people are actually involved, and those few people are very important. You can be one of them.

Don't like the President? OK. But what about all of those other people who will be making the laws, administering local jurisdictions, and more? If anyone thinks those minor elected officials aren't important to your life and the lives of others, that's just foolish. Don't be foolish. Get involved in selecting who represents you at all levels, not just the Presidency or Congress. They all matter, and the local office matter far more than you might think.

The President? Yes, the President matters but, in aggregate, all of those other office holders matter far more in how this nation operates and how your local jurisdiction operates. Every ballot and everyone on every ballot matters.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!