Editor's note: In The WellNest Watch, master's degree candidates in EMU's College of Health of Human Services explore news, research and standard practices in the field of health and wellness.
Presidential elections gain a lot of attention in the news cycle. While voting at all levels is important in a democracy, many forget how important it is to vote in their local elections.
Nathaniel King is a graduate hall director in the Department of Residential Life.
Local elections have the lowest turnout rates, compared to elections such as presidential and special elections. Local elections have turnout rates as low as 15-27%, according to the National Civic League. With a pool of voters that small, we leave out a large majority of citizens.
Why is this so important? Let's consider the impact that local elections can have on a community. Local elections have ballot initiatives, millages and proposals that impact school funding, school board officials, emergency services budgets, city zoning approval for buildings, affordable housing policies, local park improvements and more. Our everyday built environment depends on us using our voices in local elections. The goal isn’t to shame people for not voting but to look at the potential barriers to voting in local elections. I am currently a student here at Eastern Michigan University and have faced challenges when voting in local elections myself.
Voting as a college student in local elections comes with its own set of unique challenges. The Fair Elections Center identifies the main barriers that college students face when voting in local elections as a lack of knowledge about local elections, the location of the polling site, the different voting policies for students living at campuses out of state, knowing their polling location, knowledge about local officials up for elections, and ID requirements. College students are often further away from home and may face issues receiving mail-in ballots, or their state might not provide the option for mail-in ballots.
Other sources of people not voting can be the thought that one voice doesn’t make that large of a difference. A nonprofit voting organization named NonprofitVote states that “local elections are often shaped by tight knit-groups, individuals that have been running for a long time, as well as have irregular polling dates and times." This makes it harder to show up and can lead a person to feel isolated, uninformed and powerless. While you may feel this way, and there have been times I have as well, in smaller elections your voice holds more power. Your vote might be cast in a group of 100 people compared to millions at the national level. It's important to challenge these thoughts and show up for the community that shapes you, and to create a more sustainable future.
As a student, you may be thinking, I don't plan on going back home or staying in the area my school is in. These elections can impact local transportation services, rent prices, parking around campuses, as well as the planning of what businesses border campuses and local areas. You might be in the area for only a few years, but these decisions can affect generations of students. Local elections also impact factors that affect the health of the community. In November 2025, Ypsilanti elections proposed a millage that would offer Ypsilanti schools money for technical and career programs. While your voting address may not be linked to the city you attend school in, a lot of cities have had proposals for schools and fire departments.
Voting may not have always been viewed as a health behavior, but as of recently, it has become more evident that voting not only has a large impact on local infrastructure but also on healthcare and the policies that affect everyone. The Health and Democracy Index looks at a variety of ways that voting affects our health. States with less restrictive voting laws, as well as higher rates of voter turnout, have overall better health. Voting is also a behavior that has been historically attacked across marginalized communities, such as those who are incarcerated and people who cannot access polling locations. Local elections shape the community and have the ability to bring the community together; this connection is pivotal to one’s health. This action allows people involved to form social connections and feel empowered in their communities. While these are just a few examples of how voting impacts your health, I hope this encourages a deeper conversation and empowers students to become more familiar with local elections.
Contributors to the WellNest Watch health column: Kegan Tulloch and Ebrima Jobarteh, graduate assistants in the Office of Health Promotions; and Shafaat Ali Choyon and Nathaniel King, graduate hall directors in the Department of Residential Life. All four are master's degree candidates in the Public Health Program from the School of Public Health Promotion and Human Performance at Eastern Michigan University.
