Voter turnout for Tuesday’s local elections was low, as expected, due to the uncontested and largely uncontroversial nature of the races.
Approximately 19 percent of Alexandria’s 77,700 registered voters came to the polls. No more than 25 percent of Herndon’s 10,000 registered voters cast their ballots. In Fairfax City, about 17 percent of 14,200 registered voters made their way to election sites.
“It is not contentious enough and people’s minds are just not on it,” said Toni Travis, an associate professor in public and international affairs at George Mason University.
The low turnout may have unintended consequences for uninvolved voters, experts told The Examiner.
“[People] should be showing up at local elections because local governments have more effect on their daily lives than state or federal governments,” said Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
“I think what people don’t realize [is that] these people we are putting into office today in two to four years will consider running for mayor of their jurisdiction or state house,” Travis said. “This is the escalator system. They are going to keep moving up.”
Katherine Hanley is a prime example. Currently Virginia commonwealth secretary, Hanley began her political career as a Fairfax County School Board member. She later became a county supervisor and served on the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Gov. Tim Kaine followed a similar path to power.
A few jurisdictions are considering moving or have switched their local elections to November to get a better turnout, Sabato said.
“It is a trade-off. The turnouts in May are quite small, but the people who participate, by and large, are fully informed about the candidates and the issues,” he said.
