Spoiler alert: Your local school board doesnāt take a year off. Neither should you.
With primary elections coming up in Virginia next week, we thought it was the perfect time to talk about off-year elections - what they are, why some states (like Virginia!) hold them, and why they matterĀ just as much as the big, flashy elections during presidential years.
An off-year election is one that takes place in an odd-numbered year, when there are no federal races on the ballot. That means no president, no U.S. Senate, and no House of Representatives. But that doesnāt mean nothingās happening. Far from it.
You might be voting on:
Itās not just to confuse voters (although... mission accomplished). Some states like Virginia and New Jersey hold elections in odd years on purpose - to keep local issues in focus and avoid being overshadowed by federal races.
Here are a few that do:
So even if your state isnāt on that list, check your local ballot - you might be surprised. A great place to start is nass.org/Can-I-Vote, where you can find your stateās official voter site.
Virginiaās primary is next Tuesday. Are you ready?
Off-year elections may not grab national headlines, but they absolutely shape your communityās future. Stay loud, stay local, and stay voting.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Planning your primary campaign? This guide breaks down the top 10 must-have materials - from yard signs and palm cards to t-shirts, sticky notes, and tote bags - to help you build name recognition, energize supporters, and hit the ground running.
Design campaign t-shirts that people actually want to wear. From bold slogans to inclusive sizing and union printing, hereās how to make your political shirts stand outāand shout your message loud and clear.
