By Kathryn Hobbie, Board of Directors, LWV of Clark County

The big national elections are the ones that really matter … right? Many Americans feel that way. But the fact is, an off-year election may have an even bigger impact on your day-to-day life—and your vote can have a bigger impact on the outcome. 

 Before we get into why that’s so, a note about the timing of your vote: “The earlier the better this year,” Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey told the League. The U.S. Postal Service no longer guarantees a same-day postmark on your ballot. Kimsey highly recommends getting it in the mail a week before Election Day (or using a ballot drop box instead). 

This year’s election Nov. 4 is packed with mayoral, city council, school board and other important races. You’ll also have the chance to pass or reject proposals to address police staffing in Vancouver and add to fire crews in Camas-Washougal. 

 In addition, 35 candidates are running for 15 seats on the Charter Review Commission. This commission will be looking at areas such as county manager oversight, redistricting, balancing the budget, the number and pay of councilors, and easing the rules for getting a citizen initiative on the ballot.  

Sadly, voter turnout for off-year elections is far lower than for the big national ones. In November 2024, 80.6% of Clark County registered voters turned out, while the previous November, just 26.7% did. With turnout that low, a few hundred votes in the “no” column can make the difference (as it did in Battle Ground) between adequate school funding and millions of dollars in teacher and program cuts. 

“This year’s ballot has issues that affect you personally and directly,” Kimsey says. “The more people who participate, the better our democratic system of government works.”

“But I don’t know enough about the issues” is a common excuse for not voting. Where can you go for unbiased election information? 

• Start with the Voters' Pamphlet, which you also should have received in the mail. It's online at clark.wa.gov
  
  
• Read The Columbian for candidate interviews, background on the issues, and reader perspectives. 
  
  
• Don't rely on a single online source of information. Read widely, and be cognizant of where the information is coming from. Is the source legitimate and unbiased?
  
  
• Watch candidate forums. These are a cornerstone of our work at the League of Women Voters, an opportunity to assess the candidates in person. We held four candidate forums this election season, and you can view them all at CVTV.org
  
  
• Go to the League's VOTE411.org to see how candidates have answered our questions. 
  
  
• If you haven't registered to vote, there is still time! The deadline is Oct. 27 to register online (clark.wa.gov/elections) or by mail, but in-person you can register up until 8 pm on election day at the Clark County elections office in Vancouver. 

We hope we’ve convinced you that your participation matters in EVERY election. In a close one, yours could be the deciding vote! 

Kathryn Hobbie serves as a member of the board of directors of Clark County League and a member of its Communications Committee and the state Local News and Democracy team. She began her career as a journalist in New Jersey before switching to freelance writing for nonprofit clients around the country in healthcare, education and the arts. She also has taught writing workshops for several clients including the Veterans’ Administration.