how does voting affect affordable housing?

Many policies at the local, state, and federal levels influence affordable housing, ranging from economic and social policies to city planning and infrastructure regulations. When it comes to being a housing voter, local and state elections often have more impact than their national counterparts on affordable housing because these smaller governments can set and change zoning laws, allocate funds, and approve projects in specific districts.

When we talk about being a “housing voter” as a form of advocacy, we are talking about using your voice and your vote to make your representatives aware of the housing issues in your area and to let them know that affordable housing matters to you. After all, they are representatives: elected officials who make decisions on behalf of their constituents so that people from all over the state and country have someone advocating for their needs in the government.

We believe that everyone who lives and works in our community deserves safe, decent, and affordable places to live. When families and individuals experience the benefits of stable housing and ultimately, the American Dream of homeownership, we have safer communities, increased high school graduation rates, more participation in the workforce, additional tax revenue to support city services and lifted neighborhoods.

how do I become a housing voter?

1. First things first: REGISTER TO VOTE! You need to register to vote at least twenty days before you plan to head to the polls if you plan to vote on Election Day. Conversely, you can register and vote on the same day if you participate in early voting. If you are already registered, great job! Still, check your registration status just in case—occasionally, a system glitch or human error causes someone to lose their registration status. You can check to make sure you are still registered HERE.
2. Research your local elections. Find out who is running in your area and what their platforms are. See if they have specific views or statements about affordable housing. Take the time to look through their websites—remember, anyone can say anything in a speech or commercial! Reading a candidate’s published platform is a more direct way to make sure you know exactly what they stand for.
3. Inform candidates about why affordable housing is important to you. Whether you prefer attending forums or making phone calls, there are so many ways to let candidates know that affordable housing is an issue you and your community care about. Make sure to let them know up front, especially if they are running in their first election! Getting a candidate to champion affordable housing and homeownership issues from day one in office is a fantastic way to ensure changes are made.
4. Make a plan to vote and encourage your friends and family to do the same. If you are planning to vote in-person on Election Day, make sure you know where your assigned polling place is located. You also may need to take some time off work (check with your employer to see if they offer paid time off to vote)—lines can be hours long on Election Day! If you do not have the time or resources to vote on Election Day itself, rest assured, there are other options in place. You can participate in early voting at one of your district’s approved locations, or you can request an absentee ballot if you prefer to skip the booth altogether. Absentee ballots are also a great option if you want to research each candidate as you fill out your ballot!

Do your part in the voting booth, and make sure to follow the steps above to ensure your voice is heard on November 5th!

Sources:

• National Low-Income Housing Campaign
• Mecklenburg County Board of Elections
• Iredell County Board of Elections
• Gaston County Board of Elections
• NC Voter Registration
• Ballotpedia NC