Photo via CNN Politics, Political Ticker
FIUSM Staff
Every four years, after the presidential election dust settles, pundits will ask why Americans place so much importance in presidential races—and the belief that presidential policy affects us directly in our daily lives— but consistently neglect local races.
Voter turnout regularly drops during midterm elections. According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center, midterm election voter turnout fell to 37 percent following 2008; where 57 percent of registered voters came to the polls— making it the highest presidential voter turnout in years.
For millennials, the generation supporting gay rights and the decriminalization of marijuana, turnout is especially low in these off year elections.
In 2008, it wasn’t uncommon to see 20-and-30-year-olds take to the streets campaigning for Barack Obama, a young socially liberal candidate they believed represented their ideals and values, and embodied the progressive course the country should take.
That same year, Dwight M. Bullard, a 31-year-old candidate who supported and emulated the soon-to-be president in many ways, won the 118th District in the House, uncontested, but relying solely on the support and votes of his elders.
Instead of exploring the answer behind why young people especially don’t see the power local policy makers have, it’s important to understand how those powers affect us everyday.
Midterm elections happen, state by state, every two-years, electing state and federal congressional representatives, governors and local municipal officials. Each state is different as to which specific offices are up for election each midterm cycle— some state officials serve a four-year term, while other states have two-year terms.
Starting in Washington, any proposed federal mandate and law that will be eventually left to states to implement, must first be voted in by the Congressional representatives voted in during off-year elections. Many argue that these senators and house representatives actually hold the “true” power since collectively policies and laws live or die in the chambers of Congress. The same can be said regarding state congressional representatives.
The constitutional powers given to the president in the legislative process lies only in being able to approve or veto a bill, not propose.
Locally, we feel the effects of county and municipal leaders everyday from the schools we attend, the roads we drive on, the water we drink and to the police who protect us. Attendance during city council meetings, a place where residents can voice out grievances and demand change, is generally low, extremely low.
Right now, the president and democrats in Washington are rallying behind a movement to federally raise the national minimum wage. This would undoubtedly put money into the pockets of Americans. Some argue that reducing state taxes—property taxes, income taxes, etc.— can have a similar effect to raising the minimum wage, and may even be a fiscally smarter course of action.
The college student unhappy with things like high tuition rates should look no further than to the Florida Board of Governors, a 17-member governing board appointed by the state’s governor who regulates the 12 public universities in the State University System.
Last year, the BOG developed a new funding model for universities based entirely on the institution’s performance— the good schools are rewarded with new funds, while the poorly performing schools could lose money.
This was an obvious problem for the smaller and less established schools in the SUS, but many officials — on both sides of the aisle— question whether the model would survive under a democratic governor, Charlie Crist. To the students attending the universities who performed poorly, and potentially face the quality education being affected because of budgetary cuts, voting in the November election is the best way to restructure the model.
This year’s hot topic ballots include medical marijuana, FIU expansion onto the Miami Dade Fairgrounds and giving power to the elected governor to appoint judicial vacancies.
This year’s midterm elections will determine the future of Florida. The legalization of medical marijuana could be the first step in a path leading up to its decriminalization, and more importantly, the state can begin taking serious steps in exploring how we will tackle South Florida’s rising waters.
The question for many has always been, “what can I do to change things?” The answer is simple: vote. Moreover, vote where it matters and where we, as a citizen under the constitution, can use the powers invested in us to dictate what our future will be.
About Post Author
