In November, voters across the United States spoke up in high-profile elections to reject election deniers—those who have questioned the integrity of the election process despite ample evidence to the contrary. The results offer a small but significant sign that voters are paying attention to the facts when they get them. But here I’d like to make a pitch for the local contests as well. In L.A. County, voters also seem to be paying attention.
Why is it so important to focus on local and down-ballot as well as high-profile measures and races?
As you know, we all live on our own media islands based on the information we seek and consume. Being constantly bombarded by dis- and mis-information can make it difficult to recognize truth and all too easy to take sides without considering all of them. At times, those “other people” seem removed from reality. Depending on whether we live in homogeneous or heterogeneous communities, reside in rural areas or urban centers, or (with enough wealth) insulate ourselves from “how the other half lives,” we choose the facts that create our realities. Therefore, we elect representatives that reinforce our views of the world around us and who promise to advance policies that will improve our lives, enable us to achieve our personal goals, and secure our future.
The process can be exhausting. Choosing our local representatives and considering the consequences of ballot measures can be the hardest job we have. And I often hear folks saying that they “stay out of politics” as a result. They “stay out of politics” because they don’t make the connection between our votes and the difficulties facing us every day. They “stay out of politics” because they don’t understand our complex global (or national or even local) economy or the international events that directly affect us. They “stay out of politics” because they’re intimidated by the choices we all must make.
In highly publicized contests, people can find information on candidates and have a good opportunity to compare them. Not so easy is the job of finding reliable information on local elections. But it is these local elections that tend to be so consequential to the quality of life we experience. Our local policing practices, for example, create (or erode) our trust in the justice system. Our housing policies can keep (or make it impossible to secure) a roof over our heads. Our school initiatives focus on preparing all students (or just some) for adult responsibilities. Our transportation infrastructure makes it relatively easy (or nearly impossible) to get to work and school. Our food sources support our choices to eat healthy (or junk) foods, and our planning of public spaces gives us access to recreational opportunities within (or far distant from) the communities in which we live. The political choices we make at the local level directly affect public policies that shape all these aspects of our daily life.
So find out how L.A. County voters weighed in to improve their quality of life this election season. Visit Election Results . And keep paying attention!
Another shout-out goes to our sister League of Women Voters of Arizona for successfully defending the voting rights of voters in Arizona! Read about it here: https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/arizona-voter-intimidation-challen...
—Martha Zavala
