One cure for sour feelings about politics − getting people to love their hometowns

Fostering a sense of pride in local communities increases citizen participation, including, at a bare minimum, voting in municipal elections.

By: Sean Richey, Georgia State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 15, 2026

Words: 1,036

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Sean Richey, Georgia State University

Eileen Higgins won a historic victory in December. She became the first woman ever elected mayor of Miami, as well as its first Democratic mayor since 1997.

Although the stakes in the city’s Dec. 9, 2025, runoff election were high, interest was not − 4 in 5 registered voters stayed home.

Low turnout is common in municipal elections across the country. While much of the nation’s political …

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