2025 may seem like a bit of an uneventful election year, considering that the only seats up for grabs are local positions such as mayors and school board members, and the only issues that people really seem to care about are levies that most can only vaguely recall by the time they step up to the ballot box. 

Still, local issues like these are very important to pay attention to – after all, local elections are the most likely to directly impact the everyday lives of voters, from policy decisions to levies that affect whereconstituents’ tax dollars go. 

Our faculty here at AU believe the same, and have offered a few words of encouragement to any student voters that are still on the fence about casting a ballot. 

Dr. Soren Brauner of the biology department stresses the importance of voting in every election, no matter the scope or the results. “Voting in all elections is important. It’s a duty of our democracy,” he said, “I always vote, no matter what. My candidates often don’t win, but it’s part of the process.” 

Dr. Paul Hyman, also from the biology department, said, “…the people that you’re voting for in local elections are the ones that control things where you live, so you want to have some say in who is having sayover your schools and your local government.” 

Dr. Rene Paddags of the political science department echoed this, saying, “…all the issues that you have right outside your door, who’s the mayor, who’s the police chief, who’s the judge… you pay some local taxes or sales tax, income tax, and so if you agree or disagree I think you should express your opinion.” 

Even in a small town like Ashland, everyone’s day-to-day life is still affected by their local government, so voting is of the utmost importance.