For everyone registered to vote, this is a call to action.

Turnout has improved in local elections throughout the years, but there still are not enough students making their way to the poll. About 12.8 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2011 city council elections, a step up from 8.74 percent total in 2009 and less than 2 percent in 2007. We applaud the progress made, but turnout still is embarrassingly low, especially in on-campus precincts. Only 24 people voted in the Union in 2011, and 13 voted in the Brody Complex precinct.

Especially as students, it’s easy to feel more a part of MSU than the city. But members of city council will impact the bars and restaurants, housing and way of life in East Lansing for the next four years. Students, especially freshmen who will call the city “home” until graduation, must play a role in local elections. The more students vote, the more council members will feel obligated to cater to our needs so they can keep their seat come next election. If we want a voice in the city we will spend some of the best years of lives in, we must vote.

Still not convinced? Here are some of the ways the East Lansing City Council has or can directly affect student life in the city.

HopCat

Without city council’s approval, East Lansing bar-goers would have to drive to Grand Rapids to munch on crack fries and sip Bell’s Soft Parade. Every restaurant application must first be approved by council, and every liquor license also must be approved. New favorites such as What Up Dawg? and Peppino’s East Lansing both went through council before opening.

Capping patrons at downtown bars

Council also has the power to stop more bars from coming to the city. A proposed ordinance would do just that — cap the number of patrons at downtown bars and effectively stop more bars from opening up shop. Current bars would not be affected by the proposal, but if the ordinance makes its way to council for a vote, say goodbye to any fresh bars in the city.

Park District

Plans are moving forward to transform the dilapidated buildings across from Dublin Square Irish Pub and Rick’s American Cafe into mixed-use space. Ultimately, the council will give final approval for what exactly DTN decides to build there, whether that’s a hotel, grocery store, apartments, office space or all of the above.

Snow removal and party litter

Thanks to council approval and an amendment passed in 2011, residents who don’t clean snow from their sidewalks within 24 hours can expect a $25, $75 or $125 fine depending on whether or not they have received previous offenses. For anyone who has slept in the day after a snowstorm and woken up to a whopping ticket the next day, this policy hits close to home. Red cups and beer cans left behind from tailgates also mean fines because of policies passed by city council, and stricter penalties were passed this summer for bulk items such as furniture commonly left on the curb after students move in or out.

Hookah lounges

City council enacted a moratorium preventing any additional hookah lounges from opening in the city in February. “It seems like the next step is to restrict the number of ice cream parlors in East Lansing,” East Lansing resident William Russell said before council passed the ordinance.

It might seem like local politics are far removed from students’ way of life, but in reality, many of the decisions made at City Hall can have a huge impact on young residents.

Don’t let the student voice fall to the wayside. Take part in shaping the future of East Lansing and vote today.