The Importance of Voting Down-Ballot
10/2/24
It’s no secret that there is a presidential election on November 5. We are inundated with news, social media and campaign ads on a daily basis. And yes, the League of Women Voters of Illinois encourages all eligible citizens to register and vote in this important presidential election. But the fact that other critical national and state level candidates are also on the ballot next month can sometimes get lost in the noise.
The US president does not make US laws or allocate how your tax dollars are spent. Under the US Constitution, that power is given only to Congress. Voting “down the ballot” will likely have an even greater impact on your life than voting for the US president. Here’s why: If you are concerned about the national budget or immigration or the environment, for example, you should make it a priority to vote for a US senator and representative who will best represent your views when such laws are made.
Members of the US Senate have enormous power to shape the judicial system and the “administrative state” in general through their power to approve Presidential appointments. They are also responsible, along with the US House, for holding the president accountable as part of the balance of powers afforded to Congress in the US Constitution.
Recently, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted greater and greater authority to state governments. This is the case for voting rights, reproductive rights and other issues that have recently come before the Court. The elevated role of state authority makes it imperative that voters elect the state officials who will best represent them for matters now delegated to state lawmakers.
Like the US Congress, only state legislators (i.e. state senators and state representatives) can make laws and pass a budget for their states.
Finally, the people you elect in Illinois (both state and local) have the authority to impact how elections are run, how Congressional maps are drawn, govern their own code of ethics, and a number of other functions that are the cornerstones of our democratic system of government.
Just as every vote matters, every vote you don’t cast may matter more.
LWVIL has made it easy for you to learn more about candidates running for office. Please look for a League of Women Voters candidate forum near you and check out our Illinois Voter Guide for unbiased candidate information.