College students love to talk about change in today's society. We post about it, protest for it and debate it in class. Yet when Election Day rolls around and it’s a mayor or city council race instead of a presidential election, student voter turnout plummets. It’s ironic because local elections decide the very issues that shape student life.
It’s easy to push away a city council race as something for older adults, the people who own homes and pay property taxes. However, students are real residents too, and the policies decided in local elections touch nearly every part of campus life. Rent costs, public transit, safety, zoning for student housing -- all of it comes down to local votes. The next time your lease goes up, remember it’s your city council setting those regulations. When the bus schedule cuts weekend service, it’s your local transit board making that call.
Local ballots aren’t filler; they are the foundation for our small towns, especially Athens. A single mayor’s decision can determine whether the university gets funding for student-led sustainability projects or whether the wobbly bricks on Court Street get replaced. These issues might not be trending on social media, but they determine how livable your college town really is.
Athens voters are determining the renewal or replacement of multiple tax levies. By renewing tax levies, the city of Athens will not increase taxes beyond the current rate. A replacement of certain tax levies will replace the existing tax with a new one.
The uncomfortable truth is that when students don’t vote, someone else always does. Those voters, often older, wealthier and settled, or voting from another county with an absentee ballot, shape policies that may not reflect the student experience. They might view student housing as a nuisance instead of a community. They may push for noise restrictions or parking limits that ignore the way students live. Local elections are often decided by a few hundred votes, and a small number of ballots can tilt these decisions. Imagine if even half a campus voted in local elections. The power of decision-making would be handed to college students.
Some argue that students are temporary residents, that they will leave after graduation, so their vote doesn’t matter. Temporary does not mean irrelevant. Students pour money, energy and life into college towns. They rent apartments in Palmer Place, volunteer at PassionWorks, work for local shops and bring life to Athens. They deserve representation that understands their needs now, not in some theoretical future.
The power of the student vote isn’t theoretical either. In several college towns, young voter turnout has swung elections. One organized dorm floor can make more difference in a local race than thousands of social media posts about national politics.
So, before walking away from the booths because it’s just a local election, take a minute to look at what's on the ballot. Research the candidates who decide your rent prices, campus bus routes and the nightlife you enjoy on weekends. National elections might decide the country’s future, but local ones shape your present.
Change doesn’t always come from Washington; it starts with a vote cast two blocks from your apartment. College students have dominated the culture of Athens for many years. It is time to make your culture count. On Nov. 4, cast your vote and let your voice be heard in City Hall.
Heidi Bartolone is a sophomore studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Heidi about her column? Email her at hb963023@ohio.edu. @heidibartolone
