Editorial

This year, every vote counts

Posted

Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 8, but it won’t be just to decide the next president. Many other federal, state, county and local seats are up for grabs this year, and the decisions we make in the voting booth will potentially affect our lives dramatically.

It’s easy to lose sight of the importance of so-called down-ballot races, because they’re often less visible — especially during an election year when Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are dominating the political discourse. As engrossing and polarizing as the presidential campaign has been, it’s important to remember that there’s no such thing as a small election. And while the president certainly influences every aspect of our lives, from the drafting of laws to the creation of jobs to the ups and downs of the economy, it takes a cohesive network of local officials to effect change. When you vote on Election Day, vote all the way.

On the ballot in November will be candidates for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives as well as the State Assembly and Senate in Albany. These are local people who represent us at the top levels of government. Who we put in office there matters, because their job is to advocate for the interests of their constituents — us.

All 435 seats are up in the House of Representatives, and as we have been so vividly reminded in recent years, Congress’s makeup determines the tone and effectiveness of the federal government, arguably even more so than the president does. Laws start on their road to enactment in Congress, and the president’s initiatives often hinge on the level of support in the House.

The same is true in Albany: State government doesn’t begin and end with the governor. Nothing gets done without the Assembly and Senate. We’ve seen deadlock in the Capitol, but we’ve also seen sustained periods of action. In recent years, the Legislature has implemented a property-tax cap and has passed the Marriage Equality Act. It determines how much money our local schools and hospitals receive. These are huge decisions that affect all of our lives. That’s why it’s important to elect the people who you believe are the right people to represent us in Albany.

To arrive at informed opinions, voters must get to know the candidates, especially because they often run for local offices more than once, whether they win or lose. Here are two examples. Democrat Ryan Cronin, 35, a local commercial litigator, is challenging Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon, 70, for a second time for the 6th State Senate District seat after running unsuccessfully in 2012, losing by 4 percentage points. And State Sen. Todd Kaminsky and Republican candidate Chris McGrath will face off once again in the 9th Senate District, after Kaminsky narrowly won a special election in April to the seat vacated by Dean Skelos after his conviction on corruption charges.

We encourage voters to become as informed about races for the State Legislature as they are about those on the federal level. And don’t forget the contest in the Town of Hempstead’s 4th Councilmatic District, which covers much of our readership, in which the incumbent, Republican Anthony D’Esposito, will be challenged by Democrat Douglas Mayer.

In the coming weeks, the Herald will introduce you to the candidates. You’ll have a chance to read about their positions on a range of issues, and what their priorities will be if they’re elected. But don’t stop there. Check out the campaign websites, and the candidates’ Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.

And on Election Day, don’t forget to vote — for all of these seats, not just for president. It takes U.S. representatives, state legislators and town council members to run our governments, and to properly serve the people. Do your part to be an informed voter in this crucial election.