Why States Matter: Voting Down-Ballot, or “Don’t Leave Those Ovals Blank!”
Over the past three years, I’ve been proselytizing for Sister District Project to anyone who will listen (and quite a few who won’t). Why? Because SDP understands a truth long grasped by the right: state elections matter.
Our elected state Representatives and state Senators pass laws that wield immense power over our daily lives. State laws largely govern policing, for example. State laws determine district maps, and ensure election protection (or suppression). State laws guarantee access to healthcare, reproductive and otherwise. State laws allocate funding to protect the environment, finance public education, and safeguard small businesses. A case study in how state-by-state laws engender wildly different outcomes: Florida, where the COVID-19 “policies” enacted by the GOP trifecta in charge have caused needless and terrible suffering, particularly among LatinX and BIPOC populations.
State legislators may be the most public face of state government, but a number of other elected state officials likewise make decisions affecting all of us; we just may not fully understand the nature of their influence. Who among us has not filled in one or two ballot ovals over the years without completely understanding the position we were supporting? “Register of Probate?“ “Councillor?” What exactly do these folks do? And why is it so important that we take time to research them and vote in their races?
Ballots… Bay-State Style
All states have certain elected positions in common (e.g. state Senator, state Representative, Attorney General), but as you wend your way through the down-ballot weeds, offices and titles may vary state-by-state depending on your state’s structure and history.
For the sake of my and your sanity, I’ll stick to Massachusetts government as an example. (Fun fact: the state legislature, established in 1713, is the second-oldest democratic deliberative body in the world after Britain’s Parliament!)
Say you live in Salem, MA, to pick a name we all know. Whom do you get to elect? Assuming the GOP does not subject your community to its arsenal of voter suppression tactics — e.g. removing polling places, cutting voting hours, instituting onerous voter-ID laws, hindering mail-in voting (or removing mailboxes entirely), or simply dropping you from voter rolls altogether — you will be able to cast your vote for President and Vice President this November HALLELUJAH THANK YOU GOD.
Depending on what positions are vacant in your area, you might also get to vote for your federal Senator and Representative(s), running in MA Congressional District №6; your State Senator (Second Essex MA Senatorial District); your State Representative (Seventh Essex MA Representative District); your Councillor (Fifth Councillor District); your Attorney General (Eastern District); and/or your Register of Deeds (Essex Southern District). Not to mention further-down-ballot positions that might be vacant at the city / town / precinct level (School Board, City Council, Library Trustee, etc.).
Who’s Who?
With props to the MA Citizens’ Guide to State Services, where much of the following information is listed, here are some of the public servants whom you, the voter, have the power to elect to state office. Choose wisely.
Elected MA Constitutional Officers (i.e. Positions Specified in the State’s Constitution)
Attorney General
The chief lawyer and law enforcement officer for Massachusetts. Prosecutes criminal cases, enforces environmental-protection laws, advocates for affordable healthcare, oversees public charities (hello, Trump crime syndicate!), enforces state & federal civil rights laws, protects consumers.
Auditor
Audits all state entities at least once every two years. Investigates fraud within state assistance programs, reviews state’s use of taxpayer dollars, protects public money, analyzes whether proposed or existing state mandates impose direct costs on a city or town.
Governor
The head of the executive branch of MA government, and Commander-in-Chief of state’s military. Proposes a budget, nominates judges (versus some other states, where judges are elected by voters), grants pardons, appoints the heads of most major state agencies, and has the power to accept or veto bills passed by the legislature.
Lieutenant Governor
Like the federal VP vis-à-vis the President, is next in line of succession in case of Governor’s absence, resignation, death, or disability. The MA Lieutenant Governor is also a voting member of the Governor’s Council (see below).
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Administers elections (*DING DING DING*), maintains public records and information on all aspects of state government, oversees the Registry of Deeds (divided by district; see below).
Treasurer
Manages all state funds, sets state’s investment policy, issues state bonds, oversees state workers’ retirement system, oversees various Divisions (Lottery, Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, Clean Water Trust, School Building Authority).
Councillor, Governor’s (aka Executive) Council
Approves judicial appointments, authorizes Treasury expenditures, and certifies results of statewide elections (*DING DING DING*). Eight officials, elected from the state’s eight councillor districts, serve for two-year terms; Lt. Governor also serves on the Council.
Other Elected MA State Officials
Clerk of Courts
Files and maintains judicial documents, collects fees, administers oaths.
County Commissioners
Manage each County Commissioners’ Office. Implement policy and budget, oversee personnel, purchasing, management info, and administrative systems, appoint County Director.
County Treasurer
Oversees collection, custody, management, and disbursement of County government funds.
Register of Probate
Administers probate court, which handles family legal matters (divorce, child custody), wills & estates
Register of Deeds
Holds county records of real-estate transactions and ownership.
Sheriff
Chief law enforcement officer for the county. Oversees county jails, serves subpoenas, protection orders, etc.
At a time when simply speaking truth as a public servant prompts death threats, I salute our Sister District state legislative candidates, as well as all the other decent, sane people running for any number of other, down-ballot state positions. They’re braving the madness to make a positive change in our communities. Let’s honor their efforts by making sure we vote for EVERY RACE on our ballot, top to bottom.
- Juliet Eastland
