The Nov. 7 elections remind Americans of one thing: every citizen should vote. Among local elections, Ohioans voted on a proposition to protect abortion in the Ohio constitution. 

The proposition won by 13 points, according to NBC. NBC praised the outcome, while conservative outlets like the Daily Wire lamented the codification of abortion.

As with every political issue, some voters are happy and others are discouraged. The group that is unjustly emotional is made up of the people that did not vote in their own elections.

People who refuse to vote or are too lazy to vote about an issue neglect their obligations as American citizens.

At the end of the day, the election cannot be undone. The results are what they are. That said, both parties can learn one important lesson from the election: Voting matters.

It seems cliche, but every vote counts. In states like Texas, pro-life voters have been able to create legislation to combat abortion. Pro-life voters, like pro-choice voters, have the capacity to win elections in their favor. They just need to vote and convince other people to do the same.

At Hillsdale College, many students have strong thoughts on the presidential elections and various clubs debate political theory, but local elections fall through the cracks. 

Personally, I struggle to pay attention to local elections. I read national newspapers, pay attention to foreign relations, and try to remember which events are happening on campus. That said, local elections are crucial, and have almost more of an impact than presidential elections on my everyday life.

For example, Indiana voters from my district this year voted on a proposition to keep funding in public schools. That vote, which passed, will have a far more direct impact on my neighbors than the upcoming presidential elections. 

The same goes for abortion legislation. When voters are informed about the policies at hand in their local communities, they can choose to make an impact on abortion in their region. 

Even if the legislation a citizen supports fails in an election, that citizen must continue to vote. The day that voters, regardless of their position, avoid the polls due to discouragement is the day that the opposite side wins.

It is difficult to keep track of the political intricacies of local politics, but they have a greater impact on life beyond college. We will not exist in the “Hillsdale bubble” forever, and need to take an active role in local politics, rather than just national ones.

Take the initiative to register for an absentee ballot. Go door-knocking over fall break. Volunteer with a political campaign over the summer. 

Elections are in the hands of the voter. As citizens, it is our responsibility to be engaged in our local politics as much as national politics. 

If voters have strong opinions about a candidate or a proposition, they need to vote about that. And they need to be informed enough to know when those issues are on the ballot.