Right now, there are just under 3 million people in Connecticut who are eligible to vote. Of that number, only 2.1 million were registered at the time of last year’s municipal elections, and only 709,000 registered voters actually cast ballots, according to data from the Secretary of the State’s Office. To be clear – that’s a turnout rate of around 33%.

For me and my colleagues at the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, these numbers lay bare the need for increased civic engagement in communities across the state, a goal that our organization has pursued for over 100 years now. By advocating for policies that promote voter registration and education, the League has helped advance numerous legislative initiatives that have expanded protections for voters, shaped vital campaign finance reform, and encouraged bipartisanship among elected officials.

This legislative session, Connecticut’s General Assembly has the opportunity to make history by passing a first-of-its-kind bill that would support Connecticut-owned media outlets – core elements within our information-sharing ecosystem that just so happen to be one of the primary drivers of increased civic engagement and awareness. As you might expect, studies have shown that communities with less local news have lower voting rates and fewer choices in candidates.

As an advocate in my hometown of Darien, I have witnessed the positive impact local news can have on those who are hesitant to vote or confused about changes happening in the community. Being able to point folks to trusted local sources who consistently report on issues that affect their lives is an essential step to making potential voters feel empowered and in control of their decision at the ballot box. In Darien and throughout the state, I’ve seen access to local news be the turning point for previously non-participating voters once they realize that democracy is truly in their own backyard.

It’s rare to find such a creative solution to political apathy – one of the central problems facing our democracy – in a way that doesn’t require any additional spending from our state government. The proposed legislation, House Bill 5408, is calling for the reinvestment of already allocated government advertising dollars into locally owned media, which will allow for public financing of journalism in Connecticut without compromising editorial independence and withoutcosting taxpayers a single additional cent. This type of bill has worked at the municipal level in both New York City and Chicago, but Connecticut would be the first to implement it at the state level.

2024 is a pivotal election year in which every Connecticut citizen deserves to have their voice heard and to feel well-prepared before their ballot is cast. The League of Women Voters of Connecticut is committed to promoting voter participation, serving voters, and preserving good governance locally. Personally, I can’t think of many better ways to do just that – RB5408 gives us an opportunity to stimulate our state’s democracy from the ground up, starting with the reporters and newsrooms that keep us all informed on the issues and decisions on which we vote.

When I envision Connecticut five years from now, in a future where we’ve successfully passed this year’s proposed bill to support local news, I am confident that our municipal voting turnout rate will be much higher than 33% – and you, me, and every other citizen of Connecticut will be much better for it.

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