The Election Grief No One is Talking About: Down Your Ballot

As we’re in the thick of election season, let's talk about something real: the emotional weight of it all. From the presidential race down to your local school board, every election carries the potential for grief. And this year? The stakes feel especially heavy.

You might be carrying more than you realize right now. Maybe you're lying awake worrying about your rights. Maybe you're watching your community fracture along political lines. Maybe you're just tired from it all. Whatever you're feeling – it's real, it's valid, and you're not alone.

While national races dominate our conversations (and yeah, we know this presidential election feels huge), there's so much more happening on your ballot that deserves your attention. Every single race shapes our world in real ways. Think about it – while we're all focused on who might be in the White House, your whole community's future is being decided right there on your ballot:

• State races that could reshape your local laws and protect your rights

• Judicial positions that interpret the laws that affect your community

• School board decisions that affect kids' daily lives

• Local measures that impact everything from housing to healthcare

• Ballot initiatives that could change your neighborhood's future

All of these races matter. All of them carry weight. And yes, all of them can bring their own kind of grief.

That grief? It shows up in all sorts of unexpected ways. It's not just about winning or losing – it's about the whole messy process of democracy. It's about caring enough to feel disappointed when things don't go as you hoped. It's about watching your community navigate these crucial moments:

• When your heart breaks over your favorite local candidate losing by just a few votes

• When half your neighbors don't even show up to vote

• When people skip those "smaller" races because they don't feel informed enough

• When crucial local initiatives fail because folks didn't vote their full ballot

And let's be real for a minute: this election feels different. The worries keeping you up at night aren't just political anxiety – they're grief for what could be lost, fear for what might change. The concerns you're carrying are heavy and real:

• Fundamental rights being at risk

• The future of democracy itself

• Your community's safety and wellbeing

• Changes that could affect generations to come

• The uncertainty of not knowing results on election night

• What happens the days and weeks after the election

But here's what we've learned about grief and politics: feeling this deeply means you care. It means you're paying attention. And while we can't control every outcome, we can control how we show up.

That's why voting your full ballot isn't just important – it's essential. Those local races? They can be shields against national storms. Those judicial positions? They can protect your rights when everything else feels uncertain. Those school board elections? They shape our children’s futures regardless of what happens in Washington.

Here's what we can do in the face of all this uncertainty:

• Vote our FULL ballot - every single race matters

• Remember that state and local races can protect rights even when national results disappoint

• Stay engaged in local politics where real change often starts

• Support each other through whatever comes next

• Keep showing up, even when it's hard

Whether you end up celebrating some results while mourning others, or processing outcomes that feel devastating, know this: your grief around politics is normal. It’s democratic, even. And it means you're invested in our collective future.

Vote your whole ballot, because every race matters.