Op-Ed: Small Elections, Big Consequences

I hope everyone reading this took time to vote last Tuesday. Local elections, whether for library or sewer boards, school levies, or fire and paramedic funding, may not seem as thrilling as races for governor or president, but they matter just as much. These ballot decisions directly affect your property taxes and the services your community receives.

As citizens of a republic, we hold the solemn right to decide how much we are taxed. Our nation was founded on the principle of taxation with representation, and elections like these give voters the power to determine whether certain services are worth the cost.

In Kootenai County, voters approved school levies and city bonds totaling tens of millions of dollars. That’s how our system works: voters decide, and we all live with the results. So when people complain next year about rising property taxes during campaigns for legislature or governor, remind them that this local election helped set those rates.

Meanwhile, voters in Star rejected a proposed fire district levy. That’s their right as well, and now local officials will need to find ways to deliver services without raising taxes.

We get the government we vote for. If you don’t participate, you’re letting your neighbors decide what kind of government you get. Ada County saw only 8% voter turnout. Even in politically engaged Kootenai County, turnout was about 30%. Both numbers should be much higher. Every election is a chance to make your voice heard and help shape the future of your community and our great state.

How do we get more people involved? One idea is to move all elections to even-numbered years. It would save money and reduce the burden on everyday citizens trying to keep up with constant voting cycles.

I understand that voters are tired. 2024 felt like a non-stop campaign season between the presidential race and the fight against Proposition 1 here in Idaho. But we can’t afford to rest. We have less than four years to get our country back on track, or risk losing it for good.

Last week, I joined Republican leaders from across the country at Trump National Doral to get an insider view of what’s happening in Washington. We were reminded that while President Trump’s 2024 victory was decisive, it wasn’t overwhelming. We must not lose the House in 2026. If Democrats retake control, their lawfare tactics will escalate. They’ll impeach Trump and do everything they can to drag us back into the swamp. The only thing standing in their way is the American voter.

Every election matters. If we want to save our country, we can’t afford to sit any of them out.