What Happens If You Don’t Vote in the Primary? More Than You Think

Every election season, I hear the same thing from folks: “I’ll be there in November.” And I get it, that’s the election everyone talks about. It’s the one that gets the headlines, the ads, the attention.

But here’s the reality I’ve come to believe more and more over the years: if you’re skipping the primary, you may already be missing your chance to truly have a say.

I’ve seen it time and time again. By the time we get to the general election, a lot of these races—especially here at the local level, are already decided. Sometimes a candidate runs unopposed after the primary. Other times, the outcome is pretty clear based on how the district typically votes. Either way, the biggest decision was already made earlier… and not nearly enough people were part of it.

That’s what concerns me.

Because local elections aren’t small. They’re the ones that hit closest to home. We’re talking about decisions that affect our schools, our roads, public safety, and how our community grows. These are the people we see at the grocery store, the ballfields, and around town. Their decisions don’t feel distant - they affect our everyday lives.

And yet, the primary is where we see the lowest turnout.

I’ve looked at these numbers before, and it doesn’t take much to sway a local primary. In some cases, just a handful of votes can make the difference. Think about that, decisions impacting thousands of people coming down to a very small number of voters who showed up.

That tells me two things.

First, your vote in a primary carries more weight than you might think. And second, when people choose not to participate, they’re handing that influence over to someone else.

From my perspective, that’s where the responsibility comes in. Voting isn’t just about showing up when it’s convenient or when it feels like a “big” election. It’s about being part of the process from the beginning—when choices are being made, not just presented.

I’ve always believed that if we care about our community and I know people here do, then we ought to care about who’s representing us at every level. And that starts in the primary.

It’s easy to assume one vote doesn’t matter, especially in larger elections. But in a local primary? That’s just not true. I’ve seen races decided by margins that would surprise most people. Your vote isn’t just a number, it’s part of a much smaller, much more impactful group.

So when someone tells me they’re waiting until November, I understand—but I also think they’re missing the bigger picture.

Because what happens in the primary doesn’t stay there. It shapes everything that comes after. It determines who’s on the ballot, who has momentum, and ultimately, who ends up making decisions for our community.

For me, voting in the primary isn’t optional. It’s where I believe my voice matters most.

And if we want our community to reflect what we care about, that’s where it has to start.