In the latest episode of the Democracy’s Future podcast, you’ll hear from the McLean County clerk and the director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University, to learn more about voting in McLean County — including the ISU campus.
With early voting underway for the 2024 presidential election, McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael and Illinois State University’s Director of the Center for Civic Engagement [CCE] Katy Strzepek share their thoughts on the importance of voting and how it can impact individuals at the local level. They emphasize that voting is not only a right, but a responsibility that shapes the community’s future.
In an interview, Strzepek highlighted the importance of student voters developing a consistent voting habit and becoming engaged in local elections, particularly for those who may feel their vote in national elections doesn’t carry much weight.
“When I talk to students, I always say there are over 20,000 of you. Imagine if all of you who are eligible to vote voted. You would absolutely change things in our community. Students have always been at the forefront of civil rights movements and many important social movements in our country, so I like to remind people of that and get them excited about voting,” Strzepek said.
Strzepek also touched on the responsibility of voters and the history of voting in the U.S.
“If you think about when ISU was founded, when I go to speak to a typical classroom, many of us in that room, myself included, would not have had the right to vote. Many people fought and even died for voting rights. It’s really important for us to think about that and the responsibility we have,” she said.
Understanding this legacy emphasizes the importance of participating in elections at all levels. As Michael points out, engaging in local races can have a significant impact on individuals and their communities, highlighting the direct connection between voting and outcomes.
“Keep in mind, if your parents live here or your relatives or you decide to locate here, nothing is as important— in my opinion— as your county board races. Those races can be very close. They decide where your taxes are going, or your parents’ taxes or your grandparents’. So that can affect you. Don’t think that voting all the way down the ballot won’t make a difference for a lot of people,” Michael said.
Michael discussed the internal effects of politics and urged voters to stay involved even when the back-and-forth gets tiring.
“Don’t get sick of it. I mean, this is our lives. This is going to tell us what our future will be like, so don’t give up on that,” she said.