Get your ass to the polls on Tuesday: there are no unimportant elections

I actually didn't fully realize until this year that some people have no idea when elections are if they are not voting for president, which happens every four years. Elections happen every damn year! Twice - a primary and an actual election in November. This is a stab in my heart, as I have said one zillion times in my life that voting for your local judge/state rep/mayor is more important than voting for president. Why?

1. The decisions of local government will directly affect your life. Local government is responsible for the quality of schools, the judiciary, rental costs/affordable housing, recycling options and trash collection, public transportation, policing and public safety, public health measures in schools, environmental ordinances, alcohol and drug ordinances, welfare, amenities, infrastructure, job training programs, taxes, and on and on. Everything about the delivery of essential public services (that we often don't even think about and take for granted) and the quality of life we have as communities is managed by local government. Local government has a lot of money and they decide the community's priorities.

2. Your vote actually does count there. Since voter turnout is so low in local elections, they are decided by a very slim margin in a lot of cases. Every vote counts. Get your ass out there, and bring your friends.

3. Even though it seems like the reverse, state and local governments lead the way. Policies on environmental protection, women's suffrage, minimum wage, and marriage equality all began at the local and state level. They were the impetus for landmark fed policies.

4. These people you're electing work for you. Why the fuck wouldn't you want to have a say in who you're hiring? I know it's en vogue right now for government representatives to act like you are their peasants and they are doing you a great favor to grant you an audience, but it's the other way around. The sooner we take back the power, the better off the entire country is. If you are not in tune with what's going on around you, how will you make sure you have an impact on how your community is run?

5. Not voting does not make politics go away. I know. You're sick of politics. But not voting won't make them go away. It will just make you feel like a peasant under the rule of a moody lord.

Know your voting rights
-If you are asked for identification at a polling place and do not have any acceptable ID, you must be allowed to vote by provisional ballot.
-If your right to vote is challenged at your polling place and it cannot be resolved there, the judge of elections at the polling place should call the county Board of Elections. If it cannot be resolved via phone, you can show up at the county Board of Elections where a judge will be on duty to resolve election problems.
-Regardless of any issue, you must be allowed to vote by provisional ballot at the time and the eligibility of your vote must be pursued - by YOU - after.

Reminder to PA Voters to vote NO on this ballot question:

More about this from Education Voters PA
More about this - and an entire voting guide - from the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund

PA friends, please also check out Judge Ellen Ceisler.

I hope you're voting on Tuesday. How life goes in your community DOES depend on it.

Happy weekend!