Anaelda Ramos | Illustration Editor

It seems that in the lead-up to the election, both former President Trump and Vice President Harris are in agreement about something — the 2024 presidential race is the most important election of our lifetime. 

For conservatives, it is a battle between patriotism and communism; for liberals, the election is a decision to choose between democracy and complete autocracy. Regardless of where you stand, the stakes are made out to be awfully high, and at each rally, they only seem to get higher. 

By inflating the importance of this election, the candidates are distracting Americans from state and local elections and deflating their importance. If this is the most important election by such a wide margin, why should I focus on any other one? 

This phenomenon is not new. In 2016, candidates from all ends of the political spectrum said the exact same thing. When Americans are so desperately focused on one election every four years, they are bound to be less engaged with all of the others. In 2020, 66.8% of Americans voted in the presidential election compared to 50.3% in midterm elections, and less than 15% of  Americans voted in mayoral elections. All three of those numbers are a massive problem. In the midterms and mayoral elections, the minority is determining the future of the majority.

Though people often choose to ignore local government, it has a significant impact on our lives. For example, 18 months ago, a fence was built on Forest Park Parkway next to the Village, forcing students to walk all the way to the crosswalk instead of jaywalking. The fence became the talk of campus. Students were enraged they had to walk a few extra feet. Some suggested the fence be removed, while others thought the county should move the crosswalk thirty feet west so that it would be more convenient.

That decision was made by members of the St. Louis County Council. All over America, there are people serving as council members and running in elections that barely anyone talks about. Those elections matter just as much, if not more, than the presidential elections. 

This election cycle there are key amendments on sports betting, abortion, law enforcement pay, and ranked-choice voting that are going to have a greater direct impact on Missourians than the outcome of the presidential race. The decisions people make on Amendments 2, 3, 6, and 7 are what truly matter. 

No election you are eligible to vote in is too small or too unimportant. The whole reason you are eligible to vote in these elections is because the governmental bodies care about what you have to say and want your opinion. Continuing to take part in what has become an American tradition of not voting damages our society. 

When Harris and Trump say that this election is the most important, it is chiefly because they are the ones on the ballot and have the most to lose. At this point in the race, they are willing to spew whatever is needed to persuade the remaining undecided voters. Former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger expanded on that during an Oct. 10 event on campus.

“One of the things I learned right when I was elected is [that] fear sells. I mean fear sells viewers, fear gets you campaign donations, fear turns voters down,” Kinzinger said. 

Fear about the election is valid, but the decision to leverage that and turn it into votes is wrong. Both Trump and Harris are leaning into that idea while ignoring the potential consequences. They, to varying degrees, are stoking the flames of a fire that is diminishing the significance of every other election, lowering turnout and engagement in other key races.  

Yes, this presidential election is undeniably important, but so is every state, county, local, and student union election happening this year and every year. Vote in all of them, not just the ones you hear about the most on social media or TV. 

Information for St. Louis’ local election:

Post Dispatch voter guide: https://lwv.thevoterguide.org/v/stlouispd24/build.do

St. Louis County election calendar: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-government/board-of-elections/elections/resources-and-information/election-calendar/

STL City election dates: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/board-election-commissioners/candidates/dates.cfm