Voting matters, especially in the off-cycle years. And in these elections, your votes are actually counted. So, your vote counts even more when you do.
When people think of voting, they usually think about presidential elections. But the elections that affect your daily life the most? They’re often the ones you hear about the least. Well, “y’all gone learn today” (shout out to Kevin Hart)! Dr. Patrick Graham will get us started with today’s lesson.
Local and state elections—especially the “off-cycle” ones that happen in odd-numbered years or during the spring—decide who runs your schools, jails, police departments, and city budgets. These elections have lower turnout, which means your vote carries more weight, not less.
Yes, Your Vote Matters—And In These Elections, It Often Decides The Outcome.
In 2021, a school board race in Southlake, Texas drew national attention when candidates opposing diversity initiatives won by wide margins. But only about 8,000 people voted. In a city of over 30,000, that’s a turnout of around 25%. The winners gained control over school policies for tens of thousands of students—with a few thousand votes. That’s not rare; it’s the norm.
In most counties across the U.S., key positions like school board members, sheriffs, district attorneys, and county coroners are decided in low-turnout, off-cycle elections. These offices carry real power. Sheriffs control policing priorities and jail conditions. School boards decide what gets taught and what gets banned. Coroners rule on causes of death, including in-custody and police-involved cases.
Outside Groups Know How Much Is At Stake.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)—a conservative group that writes “model laws” for state governments—has targeted local elections in recent years. Internal documents from 2022 show ALEC working to influence school board races and local policy (source: Center for Media and Democracy). Why? Because they know local offices can shape national narratives.
Your Vote Is Powerful Because It Is Counted.
Yeah, actually counted! Once tallied, we get results we can trust as true to the votes we actually cast; none of that electoral college bull scat. And ignore the “rigged elections” noise… Voter fraud is extremely rare—almost non-existent according to the Brennan Center for Justice. In smaller elections, the margin between winning and losing can be in the double digits. In 2017, a Virginia House of Delegates race ended in a literal tie. The winner was picked by drawing a name from a bowl.
So if you’ve ever thought, “My vote doesn’t matter,” think again.
If you sit out off-cycle elections, you’re giving up control of your community to whoever does show up. And increasingly, those who show up are often organized and funded by outside interest groups.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can flip the script.
Check When Your Next Local Election Is. Look Up What’s On Your Ballot.
And VOTE …for your school board members …for your county’s sheriff …on bond issues, zoning, and public transportation. Your choices for local offices, ordinances, and other issues on the ballot shape your life more directly than anything happening in D.C.
When you vote in a local election, you aren’t just casting a ballot—you’re making your voice louder than ever.
