Election season has come and gone in this country and on this campus. The 2019 Elections seemed to many to be insignificant. There were no regular Federal Elections happening and the majority of elections happening were only for local races. Despite the fact that there were no Federal Elections, it is still important that you vote. In fact, it is way more important that you vote in your local elections because the decisions that are being made by local officials are decisions that will affect your everyday life. Sure, these issues aren’t as glamorous and in your face as controversies over gun control or abortion but the people being elected in local elections decide whether or not that annoying pot hole that you always drive over gets filled or if the green spaces in your home town get destroyed by development.
These local officials are also the people you are going to have the most contact with and are probably the people who will do the most to actually listen to the concerns that you have and they probably have some of the same concerns you do. Even though it takes a little bit of effort to either go home to vote early, which is an option for New Yorkers, or apply for and send in an absentee ballot, it is worth it to have your voice be heard.
If you did go vote, look into the town meetings that are held where you live and see if the officials you put into office are actually serving in your interests.
Although Election Day was over for state and local races throughout the nation on Tuesday November 5, 2019, Election Season was not quite done for Siena Students.
On Thursday November 21, 2019, the Student Government Association held elections for Executive Board Positions in Student Senate, Class Councils, Student Events Board, and Commuter Student Association. Now, it may seem like these elections don’t matter to you or they won’t really impact your life in any meaningful way. That is not the case at all. The Student Government Association Elections at this school are the most local election you will ever experience in your life. They will impact what Sienafest looks like, what your class council will do in the coming year, and who will be your advocates to work for what you want to see improved or changed about our campus as we move forward.
Students who won their elections on our campus will start their terms when the Spring Semester starts in January.
Even if you didn’t vote or considered running and didn’t there’s still time to get involved. The Student Government Association is accepting applications for appointed positions and applications are available on Saintsconnect. If you want to get involved and have your voice be heard without running, Student Senate meets every week at 4:15 pm on Tuesday in the Sarazen Student Union and offers time for the student body to come to voice their concerns.
If you did go vote, I would still encourage you to attend meetings and make sure those you put in office are really working for you.
Even if you missed your chance to vote this year, it is crucial to go out and vote in every election, from the United States Presidential Election all the way down to the Student Government Association Elections here on campus because not only is it your civic duty, it gives you the chance to have your voice be heard, especially on the local level.