The media cycle now is dominated by the federal election results. Due to its prevalence, it can feel as though Donald Trump and those elected to the House of Representatives and Senate are the only politicians worth your attention. However, local government institutions like the county and school boards have a more direct impact on your everyday life. Therefore, it’s important to keep up with news and find ways to provide input.
The school and county boards meet twice a month. In these meetings, they debate policy, hear from their constituents and adjust current guidelines. Often, these policies are aimed toward contentious local disputes, such as Missing Middle and the new school cell phone policy. Because of relevancy to your lifestyle, it is imperative to stay informed on updates on news.
Odds are that your media is inundated with ads reminding you to vote. While the interruptions to Sunday Night Football or TikTok scrolling are somewhat annoying, voting is a vital way that your voice can be heard. Alongside the presidential candidates, students at our school over 18 had the opportunity to vote on 2024 local bond referenda (money allocation).
These issues include public transportation, parks and changes to Arlington Public Schools (APS). Ever played sports on the patchy grass at Kenmore Middle School? The election was your chance to supply turf. Ever held an oven door closed with a chair in Gourmet foods? The budget proposed updating school kitchens and lunch rooms. While these policies may seem small in the grand scheme of the nation, they exemplify concrete change that your vote can bring.
Recently, a Missing Middle policy was rejected in court that would have prevented single-family homes from being built in certain parts of Arlington. This was due to a civil lawsuit, brought on by an Arlington citizen. Furthermore, the widespread protests against the ruling, such as in 2023, spurred reconsideration. The County Board plays a big role in advocating for policies like this so taking part in local elections can help put issues you are passionate about into the spotlight.
Arlington is especially lacking in election attention when it comes to smaller offices. The county reports over 160,000 registered voters, but attendance is egregiously low whenever a local election takes place. This is a failure of local government to not emphasize the importance of voter participation. More local ads, voting buses and public announcements should be made in order to maximize voter turnout. Democracy is founded on the idea of public voice, and you should understand the process to share yours.
