Local elections determine the leadership and policies that affect citizens every day. From schools and public safety to infrastructure and zoning regulations, the decisions made at the local level impact your everyday life. Local elected officials, including city council members, school board trustees and mayors, help shape the community you live in by deciding how to spend your hard-earned taxes on things like parks, leisure centres, libraries, bin collections and street cleaning. They also decide how to manage services and resources you rely on such as schools, public safety, roads, waste disposal and water supply.

But low voter turnout means that these elected officials are often chosen by a small and unrepresentative number of voters. This can result in policy choices that are less responsive to the needs and desires of the community, particularly when local issues are complex and have multiple causes.

In addition to low voter turnout, there are a host of barriers that impact participation in local elections. In particular, the tendency to treat these races as “off-cycle” elections with minimal attention can result in a lack of awareness about candidates and issues. This is compounded by a decline in local media coverage and the prevalence of inaccurate information and disinformation about the election process, which can discourage participation.

By addressing these barriers, we can encourage more people to participate in local elections and make their vote count. Increased voter turnout promotes a more representative democracy and strengthens trust in our democratic institutions by ensuring that elected officials reflect the needs and interests of the community.