By Gary Humble
Once again, we’re being told that this election is “the most important election of our lifetime.” The stakes, the rhetoric, and the sense of urgency are all dialed up to eleven, and for good reason. We face serious challenges as a nation, and the decisions we make now will shape the future of America for generations. But, if we’re honest, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard that line. It seems every election cycle brings with it that familiar refrain, urging us to vote as though everything depends on it.
So, what makes this election different? Why do we find ourselves in a state of perpetual urgency, as if every two or four years, we’re again at the most important crossroads?
The answer might be uncomfortable. Perhaps this election feels like the most crucial one because we’ve ignored all the others along the way.
These “small” elections receive little attention, yet the decisions made there are the ones that directly impact our families, communities, and freedoms.
How many times have we heard impassioned pleas to “get out and vote” for president, governor, or Congress, only to sit out local races and primaries? How often have we ignored the down-ballot candidates for school boards, county commissions, and city councils? These “small” elections receive little attention, yet the decisions made there are the ones that directly impact our families, communities, and freedoms. School boards determine what our children learn. City councils decide local ordinances. County commissions manage budgets and set priorities that impact our daily lives.
And yet, in many of these elections, turnout is so low it barely registers. In some areas, statewide primary turnout struggles to reach even 10%. While we show up every few years for “the big one,” we leave the day-to-day business of governance to whoever else happens to show up, and in doing so, we’ve ceded ground. The result? A slow but steady erosion of the values and principles we hold dear, not because they were defeated in a fair contest but because they were left unguarded.
The issues we care about—pro-life values, fiscal responsibility, educational integrity, protection of our Second Amendment rights—aren’t just determined by Congress or the president. They’re shaped at every level of government. Local officials make decisions that build the foundation for state and federal policies. In many ways, the big issues we fight over in national elections are the result of choices made long before we ever reach a presidential ballot.
This is not to say national elections aren’t important. They are. But what if we stopped treating voting like an occasional civic duty and started seeing it as a continuous obligation? What if we showed up for every election, including the ones for local offices and party primaries? What if we built a culture where exercising our civic duty wasn’t just a seasonal event but a year-round commitment?
…we must become vigilant participants in all elections, recognizing that each vote—whether for the presidency or the local school board—matters.
If we want to regain control of our communities and our country, we must stop relying on one “most important election” to save us. Instead, we must become vigilant participants in all elections, recognizing that each vote—whether for the presidency or the local school board—matters.
Now, let’s be clear: none of this is to overlook or dismiss the real concerns about election integrity. Many Americans, myself included, are convinced that our elections are vulnerable to fraud and manipulation. We remember the events surrounding the 2020 election and the overwhelming feeling that something went deeply wrong. Voter fraud, irregularities in ballot handling, and election interference have shaken trust in the very foundation of our democratic process.
And that mistrust is not irrational. Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our republic, and if the integrity of our vote is compromised, then everything else becomes meaningless. No matter how often we turn out to vote, it’s hard to believe our voices matter if we don’t have faith in the system that counts them.
When we talk about showing up for “every election,” it’s not just about making our voices heard—it’s about safeguarding the legitimacy of that voice. By electing local leaders who are committed to integrity and transparency, by supporting legislative reforms that protect the sanctity of the vote, and by participating in the process every step of the way, we strengthen the foundation of our republic.
In the end, the truth is simple: our current political landscape isn’t a sudden shift but the result of years of inattention. If we want a government that truly represents our values, we have to show up, not just when it’s convenient or when the stakes are national, but at every level, in every election.
So, as we approach yet another “most important election of our lifetime,” let’s commit to doing better. Let’s make this election count—but let’s not stop there. Let’s make every election count. The future of our communities, our values, and our nation depends on it.
