DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY

Why your vote matters in local elections

2020 is a Presidential Election year. Did you know that every year, every election, has local candidates?

In 2019 the City of Akron reelected Mayor Horrigan

Whovotesformayor.org reported that only 28% of elligible voters voted in the 2019 Mayoral elelction.

If you have ever been involved in the court system (criminal and domestic) local elections should matter to you.

• Judges are elected or appointed officials

• Prosecutors are elected officials

• County Sherriff is an elected official

• Clerk of Courts is an elected official

Akron is divided up into wards. Each ward has a representative on the City Council that represents YOU and your family, as part of your community.

What your representative decides for your community

• What businesses are allowed in your neighborhood

• How parks and recreation money is spent

• What rules and regulations should be added or changed in your community

• A whole bunch of other stuff

There are MANY local positions on ballots. State and Federal elections are equally important.

Being an informed voter is the most important thing you can do before you cast your ballot.

Let's go back to the last Mayoral election in Akron . This map shows where the voters lived.

• Where do you live?

• Do you feel your neighborhood was represented in the voting?

In this unit we are going to take a look at WHO is on the ballot. We are also going to work on ways YOU can make a change in your community.

Poll

Are you interested in any of the following? (You can choose more than one)

• Registering to vote

• Learning more about candidates

• Getting involved in your neighborhood to make changes

• Helping someone you know register to vote.