Voting apathy needs to be replaced by local work of democracy
As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches and citizens across the nation brace themselves for another stressful season, discussions surrounding politics and voting will begin to claim the spotlight. Among other hot button topics, anti-voting sentiments remain endemic in groups across the political spectrum, causing our democracy to fall into disrepair. In order to maintain a functional relationship between citizens and government, it’s important to understand what keeps people from casting their ballot and exercising their democratic privilege.
One obvious and perhaps all-too-common factor is an apathy or aversion towards the political world. Over the last few decades, the political spectrum in the United States has become increasingly polarized, repellant like two ends of a magnet. The culture surrounding politics in today’s world frustrates the average moderate citizen whose allegiance lies not with a radical party but with the best interest of the community, and as such, makes it difficult- or in some cases, near impossible- to engage in any sort of meaningful discourse between groups with differing priorities. People begin to see politics as the interest of the nation’s fanatics, an exclusive club for only those willing to follow a candidate like some sort of prophet. It’s understandable to shy away from associating with that.
While historically presidential candidates have been seen as respected figures of the nation, political idolization has reached an all time high within the past few years, especially during the presidency of Donald Trump. Supporters of Trump went to extreme lengths to display their devotion to the politician, going so far as to orchestrate the infamous “January 6 Attack,” in which they stormed the capitol, infuriated with his loss in the 2020 election. The extremity of people’s obsession with a mere political figure, and the turmoil it has caused, could be part of the reason why so many people disengage from politics altogether, not wanting to be associated with the chaos.
It’s frustrating to feel like an outsider looking in, and that frustration can feed into this sense of helplessness. Whether it be because of an alienation from politics, a partisan majority, etc., people tend to talk themselves into feeling helpless and subsequently out of voting. In this way, election results often feel like a foregone conclusion.
There are a number of states in the U.S. that have an overwhelming partisan majority… on a national scale. This doesn’t necessarily mean the reins are out of one’s hands, and perhaps more people should pay attention to local elections as those have the greatest direct impact. The city and state levels of government play a more tangible role in the lives of individual people, especially because public infrastructure is managed by the state. Public schooling, public parks, boat launches, buses, grant funding, and more are all managed by officials of the state and city governments, which are open and available to input from citizens themselves.
Given the realization that citizens actually do have a say in their community, the question becomes: how does one get involved? How does one utilize the tools that have been put in their hands? The answer is not so complicated. Pay attention to local happenings. The Common Council in conjunction with the City Manager contribute to a lot of the decisions made in Oshkosh, and thanks to Oshkosh Media, every meeting is broadcast live and posted to Youtube. Explore groups like the League of Women Voters, which exist to spread information and help every citizen to participate in government. Volunteer in the community and participate in local events, both great opportunities to network and make connections with likeminded people, as well as to become aware of the issues facing local communities. And of course, vote. Not just for the president or the senator, but for district judges, council members, and school board members. These are people who live and work alongside those they’re sworn to represent and are more willing to create positive, lasting change in the name of their own community.
by GJ Zahner
Published February 26 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue V