Have you seen the turnout for Pierce County’s election? So many missed opportunities | Opinion – Tacoma News Tribune

On Nov. 8, I checked the county website to view the election results for the previous night. I started reading through the results and noticed a worrying trend. Voter turnout was low — astronomically low — like only 30% of registered voters in Pierce County returned their mail-in ballots.

Why is this? Some would speculate that it’s not a presidential election year, so this election was less publicized. But does this matter? Should millions of dollars have to be spent on advertisements to get people to perform their civic duty, a duty that is so central to our American political and social identity?

Now more than ever, our country, state, and more importantly county, needs dedicated voters to show up to the polls.

Americans aren’t really satisfied with their government. According to the Pew Research Center, government satisfaction is at an all-time low. Only 1% of Americans feel they can trust their government “all of the time,” according to Pew Research Center. If you aren’t satisfied with the government, then channel your anger into your vote and vote for candidates that you trust — one that represents your values and your interests.

But why has the public trust in government decreased so dramatically, while voting rates in our county have also decreased? One reason is because people are disconnected from their democratic institutions. In Pierce County, it shouldn’t be the responsibility of a campaign to get people excited to vote. Residents should vote because they want a better community for themselves, their families, and their neighbors.

This year there were many important offices decided, and many races that received very few votes. Twenty-four cities were electing new members of local city councils, and in most of the races, there were only about 3,000 votes cast in these contests. Some races received less than 50 votes total.

Additionally, multiple school districts were electing new members to their school boards, and many of the races had less than 1,000 votes.

Local school board members have an important role in our local government, and they have a direct effect on our county operations, taxes and the education of our children. It is absurd so few people voted in these elections that can change our daily lives so dramatically.

So, Pierce County, if you are dissatisfied with your government, do something about it. If you don’t like the education your child is getting, vote for a new school board member. If you don’t agree with the way the county is being run, vote for a new county council member. Don’t wait for a presidential campaign to remind you to vote.

Vote because you want to support a better society, or you want better representation. Local elections have an impact on our daily lives and are just as important as presidential elections.

In future elections, vote like it’s 2012, 2016 or 2020.

Vote like our democracy depends on it — because it does.

Landon Hulser is a freshman at Loyola University Chicago who grew up in Puyallup. He studies Political Science, is deeply concerned about the state of our democracy, and is passionate about connecting his fellow Washingtonians to their elected leaders.