All politics is local, so vote that way.

"All politics is local." We hear it a lot, but what does it mean? When Tip O'Neill said it he was referring to the need for elected officials to listen to the people who live in their district. Listen to what is important to them and to do what they can to act on it, Great! But here's the thing - Tip O'Neill was a Congressman. He could have provided funding for everything his constituents wanted but if the local government didn't agree, they could stop it. For instance if he provided funds for a transportation system expansion, and a county or municipality didn't want buses or a train station in their area, it wouldn't happen. Zoning is local. Your town or city council appoints Zoning Board members.

Knowing who your County and local elected officials and candidates are is important. They impact you in very direct ways that federal government doesn't. Prepare2Vote is here to help you understand how all levels of government connect and impact you. On our Voter Information page every County Office is listed with links to Sample Ballots when they become available. We also have job descriptions (in a nutshell) in the Gov't Roles drop-down, so you can see what these elected officials are responsible for. What you are responsible for is voting for the people who will represent you in a way you feel is best.