Why should CSU students care about local elections? A conversation with Professor Clayton Wukich – The Cauldron
With no county, state or federal races this upcoming election cycle, Cleveland State University (CSU) student voters only have local government officials on their ballots in November.
But who exactly is local government? And should students care?
Associate Professor at CSU, Clayton Wukich, says yes, they definitely should.
“When you walk outside and you’re in your neighborhood, if you go downtown, if you go shopping, local government is the most visible government…the form of government that people are most connected to,” shared Wukich in a conversation with The Cauldron on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
From mayors to city council members to municipal court judges, local government is made up of elected officials who shape influential policy and provide many essential services directly to their community.
“When you select a mayor – whether it’s the city of Cleveland or whether it’s your home municipality – you’re voting on somebody who will be the chief executive officer of the city, who will lead city operations…and to run this enterprise,” said Wukich.
The enterprise of local government encompasses services such as public safety, roads and infrastructure, and parks and recreation.
Meanwhile, city council members assist in budget formation and set the policy agenda that the mayor enforces, while also engaging in constituent services.
“Your city council member is probably the most accessible and responsive elected official,” said Wukich. “…A lot of their work is about answering people’s questions and helping them connect to city services or making sure that city services are responsive to their needs.”
While federal leaders such as U.S. senators or the president are distant in proximity, local elected officials are more acquainted with the smaller communities they serve, making them more equipped to meet their needs.
This is especially true in municipalities that conduct district elections, added Wukich, because leaders represent a group of neighborhoods within their district as opposed to a whole city.
“When you elect a city council person, you want somebody who’s going to go and represent you, but also who will advocate for you. And if you need help navigating city bureaucracy, they can help you do that as well.”
In local elections, CSU students also have a say on matters related to their job prospects. Yes, local government plays a role.
“[Local government officials] are making decisions that are really important with regard to economic development,” shared Wukich. “And they’re making decisions that either promote business growth and job opportunities, or they don’t.”
If local is so important, why such low turnout?
Wukich believes that low turnout in local elections is due to a lack of understanding.
“It often comes down to a lack of familiarity, and a lack of understanding about what the city does, or what a county does, so there just isn’t the same impetus to go and vote.”
He added that this poses an issue in a representative democracy, when a smaller percentage of voters go on to elect local officials to represent entire communities.
On top of mass media giving more attention to the federal government, said Wukich, voters are not as engaged with their local government, perhaps as they should be.
But CSU students do have resources to learn more.
How can students better understand?
The Cleveland State Levin College of Public Affairs and Education offers a variety of classes with teachings on local and state government, as well as public service.
For example, UST 207, Levin’s Ohio Government class, focuses on the structure, operation and purpose of state and local government, as well as development of civic engagement skills. The open educational textbook for the course, The Ohioans Guide to State and Local Government, was authored by Wukich himself and is regularly updated.
“You walk out of [UST 207] both with the understanding of structure, but then also the skills to actually participate in the decision making process,” said Wukich.
The class fulfills the social science and civics literacy requirements within the university’s core curriculum.
Local news coverage by publications such as Cleveland.com and Signal Cleveland is another helpful resource for students who want to know more about local affairs, though Wukich implores students to “diversify their social media feeds” in the process.
Election Day
CSU student voters can access sample ballots through their respective Board of Elections website. Learn more about how and where to vote as a CSU student who is or isn’t a resident of Cuyahoga County here.
Election Day is Nov. 4. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Applications for absentee ballots are due 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 and the postmark deadline for mail-in voting is Nov. 3. Early in-person voting also ends on Nov. 3.
Being in a state with some of the strictest election laws, CSU students should make sure they have proper photo identification when casting their vote.