Photo by justgrimes on Flickr.

If you live in DC, it can be pretty easy to become disenchanted with national politics — especially in this election cycle. National is the operative word, though! Here are five reasons it’s worth engaging in DC’s local politics, from the ballot box to the community forum.

1. Voting in DC still matters

Washington, DC attracts people from all over the country. However, even if people stay here for a number of years, a lot of them choose to hold on to the voting privileges of their home state.

The District’s lack of voting representation in Congress and its three electoral votes in Presidential elections might seem like fair justification for voting in another state (even though that’s technically illegal) — especially if you come from a Presidential swing state.

But doing so deprives you of power in DC’s local elections for Mayor, City Council, ANCs, and more. Though they may not be on national news every day, the people sitting in those positions make decisions that are much more likely to impact your day-to-day life and shape the city you live in.

Many local elections — particularly for ANC, where the candidate may very well be your nextdoor neighbor — are won by only a handful of votes, which means a single vote can have much more sway locally than in even the most competitive swing states.

DC even makes registering to vote relatively easy. Most of the registration process can be done online, and there’s even same-day registration if you provide nearly any kind of documentation.

2. Important referendums are coming up

In fact, the coming months may prove to be one of the most consequential times to be a DC voter.

Just last week, Mayor Bowser announced a plan to put the question of DC statehood up to a vote. While the fight for statehood is decades-long, the idea is now gaining new momentum: the DC government’s has strongly asserted budget autonomy over Congress, and national support for statehood is at an all time high. Though the struggle is far from over, there is no doubt that a plebiscite this year on statehood would be significant.

In addition, the path is now clear for a vote this November on a $15 minimum wage, the results of which will have a lasting impact on the district’s labor force and economy.

3. You can be an expert

Issues in national politics can sometimes be extremely complicated. Wonks and academics spend lifetimes studying things like healthcare or foreign policy, while partisans spend lifetimes reframing them.

There’s also a learning curve to local politics, but many people who have no background can become fluent much more quickly. After all, it tends to be easier to understand the ins and outs of an issue when it involves the people around you, the sidewalks you walk on, the schools in your backyard, and so on. A good place to start are many of the local and hyper-local blogs on the sidebar of this very site.

The other thing about DC is that relatively speaking, it’s a small town. You can get to know political lineage, like Muriel Bowser coming up under Adrian Fenty and now Brandon Todd under Bowser, and the history is both accessible and fascinating (think Dream City). Also, the Washington City Paper has a reporter dedicated to the local beat, and there are lots of blogs that can help give you a complete understanding of what’s happening in DC.

4. Meeting your neighbors

Getting involved in local politics is a good way to make new friends who care about the same things as you. Even when you disagree with folks on issues, you often find out that you share a lot in common.

Because of my attendance at events like the DDOT Crosstown Study and Ward 1 shelter meetings, I’ve gotten to know a few of my direct neighbors — folks I most likely wouldn’t have gotten to meet otherwise. Especially if you’re new to the city or just new to a neighborhood, involving yourself in the local and hyper-local level is a stellar opportunity to interact with people around you while learning about the issues that impact you.

5. You can make a difference

The biggest, most important reason to get involved in local politics: you matter. The number of donors, activists, and voters in local elections (even those in large cities) is small, both in raw terms and percentage terms. Your voice, your volunteer time, and your campaign donations matter. Organize 50 people for a presidential rally and you have a poorly-attended rally for media to laugh at; organize 50 people for a local organization and you have a powerful force for Council Members to pay attention to.

So if change is what you want, turn your eyes local, get out there, and make it happen!

A version of this post originally ran on Austin on your Feet.

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Tagged: dc, politics, statehood, voting

David Meni works as a Research Analyst in the DC Council Committee on Human Services. He is also a volunteer writer and editor for 730DC, a daily local newsletter. As a graduate student at GW, he studied housing policy and welfare administration, and uses that background to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable DC. David lives in Park View.

Dan Keshet is a computer programmer in Austin, Texas. He is a board member of the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association and co-founded the Austin urbanist organization AURA. He blogs about civic issues at Austin on your Feet in his free time.