The Election is Over, Now What?
Election Day is one of my favorite days of the year. As a self-proclaimed political nerd, I go to sleep the night before in anticipation just like a kid on Christmas Eve. Having worked on elections across the country, I know that us Utahns are lucky not to suffer from what I call “post-election fatigue.” In competitive states, you can’t pick up your phone, listen to the radio, turn on your TV, or open your mailbox without being bombarded with political advertising for months leading up to Election Day. With the competitive nature of the Congressional race between Ben McAdams and Mia Love we got a taste of it, but nothing like our fellow Americans in states like Ohio, Iowa, and Florida have to endure.
So, now that the election is over, what’s next? If you are disappointed by the results or frustrated that a proposition you voted for didn’t pass, it can be easy to feel defeated. But, it’s important to remember that Election Day doesn’t mark the end, it’s just the beginning! Below I’ve listed a few ways to hold your newly elected representatives accountable.
Track the votes of your elected officials
Whether you voted for them or not, the elected officials in your area are still your representatives. If you only focus on election season you defeat the purpose of holding them truly accountable. There are a lot of resources to check on how your federal members of congress are voting, but my favorite is GovTrack.
On a local level, you can track bills during the legislative session here. While it’s a little tougher to stay on top of what’s happening locally, these decisions will impact your life and your paycheck more than anything that happens on a national level.
Follow their social media accounts and sign up for their newsletter
If you only read about what your representatives are doing in the news, you may not get a full picture of what they’re focused on, so make sure to follow their Facebook pages and sign up for their newsletters on their official websites. Be sure to not just go to their campaign websites, but their official office sites so that you can track their legislative and media activity.
Thank them when you’re thankful
One of the reasons I believe many good women and men don’t run for office is that it’s often a thankless job. It can be easy to get caught up, when an issue is getting a lot of attention, and call a bunch of senators to yell at their interns. But, like every human relationship, that isn’t the most productive option. Instead, develop a relationship with your representative and they will listen to you. Calling and thanking them for attending a local event or voting on an issue that’s important to you will give you more of an opportunity to discuss things they’ve done that don’t fully represent you or that you disagree with.
If you only pay attention right before an election you can miss the bigger picture of what your elected representatives are supposed to do; represent their constituents. Start now so that when 2020 rolls around you’ll be ready to hold them accountable in the voting booth.