BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Every Tuesday, Chris Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, sits down with LehighValleyNews.com politics reporter Tom Shortell for Lehigh Valley Political Pulse on WLVR.
They discuss the latest trends emerging from science-based polls to break down local, state and national campaigns and issues.
This week, the two discuss local off-year elections and how their impacts are often more personal than the results of presidential elections, despite having lower voter turnout.
"Unfortunately, lots of voters after an election year like this will not be back at the polls next year," Borick said. "... And that's a shame, because, as you said, the types of decisions that are made at the local level, the county level, the municipal level, the school district level, are incredibly impactful in our lives, every aspect of our lives."
Shortell questioned if voter turnout could be a result of campaigning — or lack thereof, compared to political efforts made for presidential efforts. Borick said campaigns appear to understand that voters "despise" campaign efforts like texts requesting donations or door knocks, but also that "the amount of spending is anywhere near," presidential campaigns.
"For a lot of Americans, the presidency is politics," Borick said. "They don't think much beyond it."
But, that doesn't keep voters from turning out for hot issues like tax increases.
What issues could be at stake this election? Borick said he thinks it will boil down to local issues important to the community, more than just taxes.
Political Pulse airs throughout the day Tuesdays on 91.3 WLVR. You can listen to an extended version of the conversation by clicking the listen button above.
