Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Ahead of the upcoming general election, Jason Adkins, executive director and general counsel of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, discussed with OSV News the significance of local elections alongside presidential ones.

Adkins emphasized the necessity for citizens to be informed about their state and local officials, stating, "There are ballot questions. There are state elections for state races, the state house or state senate. And some of the big questions are decided at that state level." He noted that many people remain unaware of their local legislators and urged voters to make informed choices in these elections.

He also encouraged ongoing engagement beyond just voting day. "Voting is just one day of the year. The meat of faithful citizenship really happens on the other 364 days of the year," he said.

Adkins suggested practical steps for staying informed and engaged locally, such as signing up for advocacy networks and email updates from legislators. He mentioned social media as a useful tool for keeping track of elected officials' activities.

Addressing cynicism in electoral processes, Adkins highlighted local politics as crucial areas where individuals can exert influence. He cited Alexis de Tocqueville's view on local politics being a foundational element of democracy: "That's often where our higher officials start … working on a school board, a city council or as a county commissioner."

Adkins advocated for building strong communities at the grassroots level as an effective way to enact change nationally: "If we start local... we could renew this nation from the ground up."

He underscored this approach aligns with Catholic principles like subsidiarity and solidarity: "Subsidiarity and solidarity, the dignity of the human person, the common good — all these work together."