While the bright lights and grandeur of the presidential election are hard to look away from, they distract from the smaller but just as impactful local races. The nationwide televised town halls and the multitude of flashy TikToks, designed to attract the attention of younger voters toward the different presidential candidates, keep the new voters from even registering the importance of the other elected offices.

Young voters must care about their local government. In the 2023 city elections, the number of voters aged 65 and up only declined by 6% compared to 2019 according to ballot return statistics from the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.

However, the voter turnout for people aged 25 to 34 dropped by 27%. Additionally, the turnout for voters aged 18-24 dropped 31% nationally according to an article by the Seattle Times.

This is a problem that has drastic consequences if not addressed properly.

For one, powers not granted to the federal government are then reserved for the state and local governments. Therefore, Americans interact with their local leadership more.

In a recent survey, drug abuse in their communities was a pressing issue for UPrep students. This problem is mainly addressed by the legal system, in which the local government plays a large role.

Just before the last general election in 2020, former president Barack Obama said, “The elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.”

According to The Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan institute, the positions up for grabs in the general election that have the most impact on day-to-day life are judges and district attorneys.

In addition, the Washington gubernatorial race is immensely important. Both candidates, Ferguson and Reichert, have varying stances on issues that the UPrep community deemed important in a recent poll like climate change and education.

Local and state government has a profound impact on its citizens. Rather than only focusing on the high profile topic of the presidential race, it is our civic duty to research and stay educated on the candidates who will successfully uphold our values in the local elections.