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Writer's pictureKristopher Ulrich

Razor Thin Margins: The Weight of Every Vote in Local Elections

Updated: Mar 10

I know that I’m not in the majority when I say that I get more excited about local elections than I do for national elections.  It hasn’t always been that way.  In high school and in college all that mattered was the big election every four years.  But now, national elections end up feeling like team sports - my team vs. your team - whereas local elections feel like my opinions matter and my vote has weight and directly impacts things that I can touch and see here and now.  Whether you feel the same way as I do, there’s truth in the matter that your vote hits harder at home.  


If you like statistics, you can think of it as a numbers game.  Let’s take the Spring 2023 elections, for example.  Councilman Buelow blew it out of the park.  He ran a good campaign, was top of the ballot, and he ended up with the most votes of all candidates at 6212 votes.  Think of that number.  Our population is just under 11x that amount - about 66,000.  The way I think of it: one vote speaks for 11 residents.  It’s not a perfect analogy - after all there are children in that number - but just consider the impact of one vote.  The few of us who decide to exercise our democratic duty to elect our leaders are pulling a lot of weight at the local level.  


If statistics aren’t enough to get you to go and vote, then perhaps you’re an issues-based voter.  That’s the heart of why I’m interested in local elections.  I’ve had friends run in different markets on all sorts of tickets.  One friend named Sonja ran for a Council seat in Orono, ME.  Her big issue push was for environmental justice, speaking out against assorted pollution practices that were rampant in her area.  She won.  Another friend (well, wife of a friend) named Hallie ran for a Council seat in University Heights, OH.  Her interesting platforms were community resource sharing and a modernization of their waste collection program.  She lost.  Win or lose though, don’t you find these things interesting?!  Pollution, waste, resources…this is real life!  This is why people run to effect change in our communities.  This is what I get excited about.  THIS is worth getting out to vote.


Let’s get back to those numbers again.  Last year was the closest race that I can remember in at least the last 14 years.  Incumbent Councilor Courtney Hansen earned 6018 votes, while returning candidate Paul Esslinger earned 6044.  That’s a spread of 26 votes.  Twenty six.  That margin is just razor thin.  


And that’s why it’s important that everyone has a voting plan.  I believe in free and open access to elections for all eligible voters.  Please, have a plan to vote.  Know where your polling place is.  At vote411.org you can register to vote and learn all about your candidates.  You can read the absentee ballot FAQ for the city to learn about early voting.  And of course you can find your polling place at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Find-My-Polling-Place.  


So please, mark your calendars and have a plan.  Your vote matters a lot especially in our local elections.  Early in-person voting at 19 E. Irving Avenue begins Tuesday March 19th already.  The big day for springtime elections is Tuesday April 2nd.  Talk to your family and friends, be prepared, and don’t give in to any excuse not to vote.





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