what does my local vote do?
Cities, towns and counties will often elect their own officials for their legislation. A mayor, who in San Diego serves for 4 years and can be re-elected twice, is in charge of overseeing their city’s main departments. These departments include the police, fire, education, and housing and transportation . The City Attorney's office provides advice to the city and it‘s departments, like the city council and mayor. It also prosecutes or defines civil law suits where the City is involved and prosecutes criminal misdemeanors committed within their jurisdiction. According to the National League of City councils,
they have many functions and job. These include review and approve the annual budget, establish long- and short-term objectives and priorities, oversee performance of the local public employees, oversee effectiveness of programs, establish tax rates, enter into legal contracts, borrow funds, pass ordinances and resolutions, modify the city's charter, regulate land use through zoning laws, regulate business activity through licensing and regulations, regulate public health and safety, exercise the power of eminent domain, communicate policies and programs to residents, respond to constituent needs and complaints and represent the community to other levels of government. The City Council is on average made up of about 6 members, a number which is decided by factors like workload and population. In November of 2020, San Diego will be voting for it‘s mayor, city attorney and city council districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.
What does my federal vote do?
Your vote matters in many different cases. You can vote in many different elections for many different people. The biggest election happens every 4 years, for the President and the Vice president. Because of how the United States votes, voters don't directly vote for the candidate that they want to be president. Instead your vote goes towards electing what is know as a delegate for your state. Delegates represent a political party, and whichever delegate gets the most votes from voters then gets to vote directly for which presidential candidate they
choose. While delegates almost always vote for the candidate from their party, they can decide to vote against their party. Whichever candidate has the most delegate votes will win and become president. Every 2 years, â…“ of the Senate is elected, as each state elects 2 senators to serve 6 year terms. Members of Congress, known as representatives, are voted in based on the population of your state. California has 53 representatives. These representatives are elected every 2 years.
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What does my state vote do?
Like the federal government, states are divided into three branches, judicial, legislative, and executive. The Judicial branch is made up of judges in state courts that interpret that state’s laws. Citizen involvement in the voting of these judges varies from state to state. In California, the governor appoints a candidate and is then confirmed by voters. These judges serve for 12 years. Legislative state officials enact state laws. Every resident is assigned to a district which represents the upper and lower houses of
legislation. You vote for an official for each house, with terms that vary form 2 to 4 years. In the executive branch voters elect the governor of their state. The governor has many of the same duties a president has, but pertaining to their state alone. They, like the president, can sign and veto bills. In California the governor serves a 4 year term that can be renewed once. Every state has ballots sent out to voters asking them to vote directly on issues like guns, minimum wages and the death penalty.