Off-year elections still make a difference, but only if you vote

Did you realize that tomorrow is Election Day?

Although the election has received some… Did you realize that tomorrow is Election Day?

Although the election has received some coverage in recent weeks, other important events – such as the war on terrorism – have overshadowed it. Although this is an off-year election – meaning that there is not a presidential election, no regularly scheduled Congressional elections, and gubernatorial elections in only Virginia and New Jersey – it still has important ramifications.

This Tuesday, Pittsburgh voters will cast their ballots for, among others, mayor of Pittsburgh, four City Council seats, seven County Council seats, three judgeships each on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, the Commonwealth Court and Superior Court, a seat on the state Supreme Court and retention of another state Supreme Court justice.

Although this election does not have the gravity or drama of last year’s presidential race, voting is nonetheless important. Sometimes local and state officials make more of a difference in our lives than federal officials. For example, the composition of the state Supreme Court determines how state laws – which set the rules on day-to-day living more than many federal laws – are interpreted and implemented.

In anticipation of last year’s presidential election, many students registered to vote in Pittsburgh. All students have this option. We pay Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania income taxes, and for all intents and purposes this is our home at the present. Local officials here have more impact on us than those wherever we live during breaks and summers. As such, we should vote here.

Although we can’t register for this election since the deadline has already passed, it’s easy to do. Before we vote, we need to educate ourselves so that we can make an informed decision.

In just a few minutes, you can find voters guides on the Web sites of both major city newspapers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (www.postgazette.com) and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (www.pittsburghlive.com). Other local news sources offer comprehensive election coverage.

Both the Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette endorsed candidates for this election. Their endorsement editorials, which provided the reasons each newspaper supports the candidates, may be good resources as well.

As we saw last year, every vote makes a difference.

It only takes a few minutes out of a Tuesday – a few minutes that can have a great deal of importance.