Should I vote in California primary? Why your midterm ballot matters in Sacramento County

It might not be a presidential year, but your vote in the California primary election can affect your daily life.

This year’s June primary in California includes candidates for U.S. Senate, governor, secretary of state, treasurer and influential Sacramento County offices, such as district attorney and sheriff.

In the past two years, people are becoming more aware of the great influence that local governments have over their lives, said Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, a non-partisan and nonprofit group that works to improve voting processes. She cited the pandemic and how the county enforced mask mandates, and controversies with police activity and law enforcement interactions with the public.

And while it is a midterm or off-year election, an election where there is no presidential candidate on the ballot, Alexander said she thinks more people are taking greater interest in the upcoming contests.

Why is voting in the 2022 election important?

Choosing your local and state officials can have a big effect on your quality of life.

“There’s this perception that the most important vote you cast is for president, but it’s actually the opposite,” Alexander said. “... I think it’s actually bottom up: the people who represent you on your school board, on your city council, on the SMUD board, on your county board of supervisors.

“Those are the people who will have the ability to make decisions that have the greatest impact on the kind of city you live in, the kind of public transportation access you have, the kind of schools that your kids attend.”

Not only will these elected officials impact regulations in California, they also represent the state of California in the Senate and House of Representatives, said Janna Haynes, public information officer for Sacramento County and its election office.

“They are the ones that help shape what happens to the nation,” she said.

Along with local and state seats up for election, there are also propositions that can affect how California residents live their lives.

“Regardless of what is on the ballot, it impacts your life in some way,” said Haynes. “And voting is way more effective than complaining about things on the Internet.”

Several high level positions are up for election in Sacramento County, including races for sheriff, district attorney, as well as Sacramento City Council seats and County Board of Supervisors.

Every vote matters

Unlike the presidential election, where there is an electoral college, local elections don’t have that, Haynes said. And so every vote matters.

She added that districts, such as for city council, water or school boards, can be very small, serving 100 to 1,000 people. If 50% of the people decide that their votes are not important and do not vote, she said, then the other 50% of the population will make decisions for the whole district.

It can also be a very close race for some offices, such as the DA and sheriff’s election in Sacramento County where there are two candidates running for each of the contests, Alexander said.

And it’s not just about the weight of your vote, but also about using your voice and being a voter.

“What politicians do is they pay attention to people who are most likely to vote, and therefore, people who are most likely to vote have the most influence on politicians,” Alexander said.

She said this means if young people, those who are housing insecure or less educated — communities whose voter turnout is lower than homeowners, people with college degrees and the wealthy — do not vote, they “will not have the ear of the politicians that they need to take an interest in addressing the issues that affect their lives.”

Can’t vote or want to do more to help your local elections?

Those who can’t vote in the upcoming election, or want to do more for their local governments, can participate beyond the polls.

Alexander said you can volunteer with a political campaign, committee or local voting organization, such as the League of Women Voters. You can also contact your county’s registrar of voters and see if they are recruiting poll workers or volunteers.

Haynes said Sacramento County provides paid opportunities with training to help with transporting and processing ballots. For more information or to submit an application to work an election, you can go to the county’s website.