Who Cares About Local Elections? We All Should.

Whether you’re a seasoned canvasser or new to local politics, this primer from Enrique Morales will give you the confidence you need to work for what you believe in. It takes all of us to hold truth to power. We can make our community a place that aligns with our values.

National elections steal the spotlight and the headlines, just like our current president. These big elections are fueled by macro-level issues, such as rising inflation and endless wars, which obviously are important.

But local elections more directly affect us and where we live. They have a profound bearing on the condition of our streets. The new buildings that appear in our neighborhood. The vibe of our community. When we examine the turnout at the polls for these races, though, we find lackluster engagement, to put it mildly.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections, 67.9% of voters turned out for the 2024 presidential election. But for the midterms, which happen in a nonpresidential election year, the turnout plummets to between 22% and 27%.

That means a fraction of us are making our voices heard when it comes to our local leaders. Perhaps the rest of voters don’t think it matters if the leader representing our ward holds distinctly different values, abuses their power to intimidate people and may even support the disgraceful Trump administration. That is exactly what we see happening on the Northwest Side where we live.

 I met with Enrique Morales, the political liaison for Indivisible Chicago Northwest (ICNW), to gain a better understanding for readers of the importance of local elections. 

Enrique tells me: “These are the elections that can affect you immediately and close to home. It’s the care of the street where you live, it’s new developments breathing life into shuttered businesses, it’s the character of your neighborhood.”

 Enrique became politically aware from a young age. In his household, there were only two TV programs he and his brother could watch: PBS and the news. As he puts it, it was always the news or a nature show, and they watched and discussed it as a family. It’s no wonder his professional path led to policy research. He earned his bachelor’s in political science at the University of Chicago, then moved on to grad school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied fine art and urban planning. 

His influences and studies have merged to serve his community in support of mental health, access to the arts and community building.

Enrique grew up on the North Side, in Ravenswood, Lincoln Square and North Center, and as an adult, he has made the Northwest Side his home.

Driven by his passion and knowledge, Enrique is poised to be part of the solution in improving the effectiveness of our electoral system so we end up with local leaders who reflect our values and will work for us. Through his involvement in Indivisible Chicago Northwest, he has helped devise a strategy that focuses on wards with non-progressive incumbents, specifically Wards 38, 39, 41 and 45. Is your ward among those? 

Through a questionnaire, all declared candidates who hope to unseat the incumbents in these wards can make their values and platforms known. An ICNW research team will review and share the candidates’ responses as well as their political record and the sources of their campaign contributions. This vetting will help us zero in on the issues that matter to us and hit close to home. ICNW’s goal is to inform voters, inspire them to unite behind the winning candidate on the ballot, and encourage voters to spread the word.

Hopefully it’s clear how we all can play a part. But you might still have unanswered questions. Here are more insights from Enrique.

Q&A WITH ENRIQUE

 Q: Why do local elections matter?

A: Your alders are your local service providers. Streetlamps, potholes, parkways, zoning approvals, commercial corridor development – these are all hyperlocal decisions made by your alders.

 Q: If they are so important, why are our local elections overshadowed by those at the national level?

A: Federal issues, like funding social services and Social Security, are sometimes conflated at a large scale and receive the most media coverage. Sometimes the loudest voice in the room is the only one heard.

Q: I’m all in on the locals. How do I decide who to get behind?

A: Follow current-candidate newsletters and attend their events to get to know them. Subscribe to their social media channels to see where they put their efforts.

Q: Now that I have my person, how do I help get the word out?

A: There are a variety of ways to help. These are tried-and-true, grassroots activities that truly make a difference. You may hit your stride with door knocking, phone banking or postcard writing. Or you can host a meet & greet with your candidate to chat with neighbors on your block. Or even drop off a personal note to your local contacts. Studies show personalized outreach has the highest impact.

Q: Now that I’m involved, how do I help keep elections safe?

A: Election protection is a hot topic right now at every level. On a local level, it comes down to: If you see something, say something. Keep an eye out for armed agents at the polls, improper ID requests, and suspicious or misleading signage. Your polling places should be free from intimidation. In Illinois, if you're already registered to vote, you do not need to show a form of ID at your polling place.  Your name will be on a list that poll workers can pull up.  If you are not registered to vote yet, Illinois has Same-Day Voter Registration at your polling place, in which case you'll be asked to show a couple forms of ID (driver's license, utility bill, SSN, etc). Beware of tactics meant to suppress voter turnout or influence the uninformed voter. If you spot any of these red flags, report it immediately to the  Chicago Board of Elections or the Cook County State's Attorney Office. 

Resources to Help Support Election Protection: 

Chip in to help Hands Off Our Vote across all 50 states and continue building out election protection resources and infrastructure. Building a nationwide program with the capacity to respond to attacks on voting rights in every community across the U.S. takes significant funds. Your support will help counter Trump and his Big Lie cronies with true grassroots power and preparation, not panic.

Make a Difference in the Midterms:

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