Local elections matter more than you think

With the March 17 primary elections behind us, all eyes now turn to the general election on November 3, 2026. In that primary, I was elected Precinct Committeeman for Joliet Township’s 37th Precinct. It was an honor, but it also highlighted a serious problem: far too many people aren’t participating in the elections that shape their daily lives.

According to the Will County Clerk’s office, just 19.93% of registered voters showed up for the primary. Compare that to roughly 75% turnout in the November 2024 general election, and the difference is impossible to ignore.

I’ll be the first to admit it, midterms and primaries aren’t as “exciting” as presidential elections. There’s less media coverage, less noise, and less national attention. But that doesn’t mean they matter less. In fact, the opposite is true.

Local government has a more direct impact on your life than anything happening in Washington. Look at your property tax bill. It’s driven by decisions made by local taxing bodies, school boards, and municipal governments. Those decisions affect how much you pay and whether your money is being spent responsibly.

Then there are our schools. Local school boards have enormous influence over what children are taught. Parents should be asking questions: Are schools introducing concepts like Critical Race Theory or LGBT gender studies into the classroom? Are these ideas aligned with your values? These decisions are being made by elected officials, often in low-turnout elections where only a fraction of voters are paying attention.

At the state level, the stakes are just as high. In Springfield, Democratic lawmakers continue to push legislation that many taxpayers would find deeply concerning. Take HB 2929, a proposal that would create state-backed facilities where individuals could use illegal drugs under supervision, with access to drug paraphernalia. Or SB 2065, which would provide free public education to individuals in the country illegally while restricting schools from sharing information about immigration status.

These are not abstract policy debates. They involve real taxpayer dollars and real consequences for our communities. That is your tax dollars being spent enabling illegal drug use and providing free education to criminals in our country illegally.

And here’s the part that should get your attention: SB 2065 is sponsored by State Senator Rachel Ventura of the 43rd District, our district. These decisions are being made by people elected right here at home.

When turnout is low, a small number of voters decide who represents all of us. That’s how policies like these move forward without broader public scrutiny.

Local elections matter. Midterm elections matter. If you’re frustrated with the direction of our state, sitting out elections only guarantees more of the same.