My Thoughts on Election Season

As the November election approaches, politics are becoming harder to ignore in Milpitas. Campaign signs are appearing around the city, candidates are attending community events, and political posts are popping up everywhere on social media. I see candidate names, slogans, and bright campaign designs, but I’ve realized that most of the time, I have no idea what the people on those signs actually stand for.

In the past, I was never really that aware of them. I would come across a sign, maybe recognize a name or two, and then move on with my day. But knowing that I’ll be old enough to vote very soon has made me start to look at them differently. I’ve wondered if simply looking at these signs is enough to actually prepare me to become a voter.

And so far, the answer is probably not.

A campaign sign can tell me who the candidate’s name is and maybe some contact information, but it really doesn’t tell you much if you’re not up to date in politics. It doesn’t tell me why I should care about their campaign or what they would actually do in office. This has made me more curious about what actually goes on behind the scenes.

Recently, I’ve found myself paying closer attention to social media posts and wondering what these candidates’ websites are even about. Instead of just becoming familiar with a name, I want to know what issues they are concerned about and how they focus on addressing them. This way I can become more informed when it comes time for me to vote. 

At the same time, seeing so many campaigns has made me think about the signs themselves. There are so many of them that sometimes they blend into the background. I’ve even wondered how much money campaigns spend on materials that people might barely notice.

The visibility of campaigns can also create its own emotions in the community. Some residents appreciate knowing who is running and what’s going on in the city, while others may become frustrated by the number of signs or other campaign materials around the city. Milpitas has specific rules regulating political signs and campaign advertising. 

This election season has made me realize that becoming an informed voter probably doesn’t happen all at once. For me, it is starting with something as simple as noticing the signs I pass every day and asking questions about what they actually mean.