Presidential elections are important. But your vote also matters, probably even MORE so, in local elections. In New York City elections, we choose the people who will be in charge of many of the things that affect our daily lives. If you care about the quality of local schools, the way NYPD polices your community, the state of the parks, how safe it is to walk, drive or bike on our streets, those are all issues that are dealt with by the mayor and the City Council. 

So, why did five times as many people vote in the presidential election in 2020, as vote for mayor in 2019? Turnout was certainly up in 2020 all across the country, and I’m proud that the Bronx was part of that trend. More than 420,000 Bronxites voted in the 2020 presidential election,  27,000 more than in 2016.  

Yet, only one in five of those Bronxites – a little more than 78,000 – participated in the 2019 elections for mayor and City Council. Part of the reason for this was that 2019 wasn’t a particularly exciting New York City election. Mayor Bill de Blasio was running for re-election, and many City Council members were also running for re-election with little opposition. 

In fact, turnout in our local elections is always low, despite the big impact of City government on our lives. Some people think that local elections are not as important as national elections, but I disagree. Local elections have an impact on many everyday issues that we care about, and if anything, your vote matters MORE in local elections, where fewer votes are cast. Elected officials know which neighborhoods vote, and as a result, they are more likely to pay more attention to those neighborhood’s needs.

This year, 2021 promises to be an especially meaningful New York City election year. Because many City officials are limited to two terms, de Blasio can’t run for office again, so we’ll be electing a new mayor. So far, 40+ people have thrown their hats in the ring in the mayoral race. Many of our Bronx City Council members are also term-limited and cannot run again or they have taken up other positions, so the elections will be competitive ones in which we, the voters, have a better than usual opportunity to choose a new council member, with new ideas, to represent us. 

That’s why I’m proud to be part of the Voter Power Committee of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC). The NWBCCC engages in community organizing to work for racial and economic justice in the Bronx. The Voter Power Committee focuses on how we can use elections toward the same goals – making sure Bronxites can cast a vote – and knowing where the candidates stand, so that elected officials know they have to pay attention to our concerns.

This year’s City elections will be our opportunity to choose the people who will lead New York City for the next four years.  So this year, I challenge all of you who voted in the presidential election to make your voice heard in this year’s NYC elections.

Like the presidential race, there will be three ways to cast your vote: (1) by absentee ballot, (2) by voting early, two weeks before Election Day, and (3) by voting in person on Election Day itself. 

First up for the Bronx are the Special Elections scheduled for March 23rd in both District 11 and District 15, to fill two Bronx City Council seats that became vacant when Congressman Ritchie Torres was elected to represent the 15th congressional district in the Bronx in November 2020, and former Councilman Andrew Cohen was elected to become a judge on the Bronx Supreme Court in November 2020. 

Most readers of the Norwood News live in one of these two districts. If you want to know which district you live in, go to https://www.mygovnyc.org/. Later this year, on June 23rd, the primary elections will be held for these seats, and also for the positions of mayor and all citywide races. The general elections for these races will take place later, on November 2nd. 

Remember, your vote is your chance to say who you want to represent your interests in City government. It’s also your chance to say that your neighborhood can’t be ignored. There are many ways to learn about the candidates. This newspaper, and many other media outlets, have been writing about them and continue to do so. There have also been a number of debates held  – on TV, on the radio and on Zoom, with more to come. The Voter Power Committee, as part of a broader, Bronx-wide coalition, is sponsoring debates. If you want to be invited, email info@northwestbronx.org. 

So don’t just use your voter power in the presidential election – vote in the 2021 NYC elections, starting with the March 23rd City Council elections.

Margaret Groarke is a resident of Kingsbridge Heights, a member of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition Voter Power Committee, and a professor of political science at Manhattan College. If you want to get involved in the Voter Power Committee, email margaret@northwestbronx.org.