Chapter 1 – Why Care About State & Local Government?

You should care about state and local government for four main reasons.

• First, it affects you directly because these governments make decisions about schools, roads, safety, and services you use every day.
• Second, you pay for it. Every day, Ohio residents contribute to the work of government through taxes on property, income, and purchases.
• Third, you can influence it through your vote, voice, and participation across several civic engagement-related activities.
• And fourth, you have a civic responsibility to care about it because democracy depends on citizens who take part in shaping their communities and holding their leaders accountable.

This chapter explains these three reasons in more detail and concludes with information about how to register to vote.