🗳️ I Got Sumn to Say: Why Local Elections Matter

When people talk about elections, the conversation usually starts and ends with the presidential race. Every four years, we hype it up like it's the Super Bowl of politics. And don’t get me wrong—it matters. But while everybody’s looking at Washington, D.C., the real decisions impacting your day-to-day are being made much closer to home.

Let’s talk about local elections.

The Power is in Your Community

Your city council decides whether your neighborhood gets new sidewalks or more potholes. Your school board determines whether your kids get updated textbooks or still gotta learn from outdated materials. Your mayor shapes public safety, policing policies, and how millions in your city’s budget are spent.

But most of us skip these elections. We don’t research the candidates. We don’t show up to vote. And we end up wondering why our communities get the short end of the stick.

Let me make it plain: Local government isn’t background noise—it’s front-page reality.

Voting Local Is Voting Big

The truth is, every national movement starts somewhere local. The fight for civil rights, public education, and criminal justice reform—all of it has roots in city halls, county courts, and neighborhood meetings.

And when we ignore those spaces, we leave them wide open for folks who don’t have our best interests at heart.

Low turnout means it only takes a small, often unrepresentative group to swing the outcome. That school board member banning books? That judge with a record of biased sentencing? That sheriff with a history of abuse?

They’re not appointed from on high. They’re elected—by people who show up.

So if you’re tired of underfunded schools, over-policed neighborhoods, or neglected infrastructure, ask yourself:

Did I vote for the people who control that?

Why This Matters in Our Culture

In Black and Brown communities, power has often been taken from us—or denied altogether. That’s why the right to vote was something our elders marched, bled, and died for.

But the system evolved. It doesn’t always need to take our rights away directly—it just counts on us not using them. It counts on our disconnection, our distrust, our disillusionment.

They’re betting we’ll stay home.They’re betting we’ll be too busy or too frustrated to participate.They’re betting on silence.

But here’s what I know: Our presence is power. Our voice is strategy. Our vote is protection.

Real Change Starts on Your Street

If we want better, we have to build it. Not just by protesting, not just by posting—but by voting like we mean it.

So next time there's a local election—don’t just scroll past the headlines.Find out who’s running. Look up what they stand for. Show up to the polls with your people.

Because change doesn’t trickle down from the top.

It rises up from the community.

Stay Loud. Stay Informed. Stay Voted.

If you're ready to do more than complain—if you want to shape the policies, budgets, and leaders that directly impact your life—start with your next local election. 👊🏽 

I’m J. Jones.

The professional homie.

And I got sumn to say: If you don’t vote local, you’re leaving power on the table.