Why your vote in Littleton’s local election matters more than you think

October 21, 2025

The recent No Kings protests have energized many of us with a renewed commitment to protecting democracy. This momentum is exactly what we need to carry forward into Littleton’s local elections this November. While presidential elections often dominate the spotlight, local elections are where decisions directly affecting our daily lives are made, and your vote matters now more than ever.

Why local elections have a greater impact than many realize

Civics education in the U.S. often overlooks the power and importance of local government. The reality is that your city council, mayor, and local boards influence many aspects of your family’s life, from property values and neighborhood character to school quality and public safety.

Consider this:

Neighborhood growth and housing: Local officials decide how neighborhoods develop, which affects housing affordability and the overall community feel.
Public services and infrastructure: City leaders set priorities for road maintenance, parks, libraries, emergency services, and more.
Education funding: Local government influences school resources, directly impacting education quality.
Public health and environment: Local policies govern public health initiatives and environmental stewardship in Littleton.

Because these decisions shape our everyday experiences, skipping local elections — often dismissed as “off-year” or “less important” — means missing a critical opportunity to influence your community’s future.

What’s at stake in Littleton this election?

This year’s election isn’t just about electing names to office. It’s about defining what kind of community we want to build. One of the most consequential issues on the ballot is Ballot Measure 3A.

At first glance, 3A presents itself as a safeguard to protect neighborhood character by limiting density changes. But a closer look reveals that the measure would:

Freeze current zoning and land use rules as of January 1, 2025, permanently locking in place regulations before recent updates took effect.
Undo recent progress on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which were made legal under state law to help homeowners create affordable, flexible housing options. This rollback would put Littleton at odds with state requirements.
Restrict the city’s ability to make even minor zoning adjustments, requiring costly and time-consuming citywide votes for changes that are currently handled through the flexible Unified Land Use Code (ULUC).
Create legal and financial risks for Littleton, including potential loss of state grants that fund essential services like road repairs, sidewalks, and infrastructure projects.
Reduce Littleton’s capacity to adapt to future challenges, whether demographic shifts, new state laws, or evolving community needs.

3A essentially enshrines inflexible, outdated zoning rules into the City Charter, a move that undermines the responsive, collaborative planning process Littleton needs to thrive.

Leadership matters: Who’s running and what they represent

This election also features candidates aligned with divisive MAGA politics, supported by well-funded special interest groups and deep-pocketed donors. These candidates have opposed critical community resources, environmental protections, and have even been implicated in unethical behavior, including election tampering. This is not the leadership Littleton needs.

In contrast, we support candidates who bring experience, integrity, and a commitment to inclusive, pragmatic governance:

Kyle Schlachter for Mayor
Joel Zink for City Council, At Large
Amanda Henderson for City Council, District 3
Merrill Stillwell for City Council, District 1

These candidates are dedicated to keeping Littleton a vibrant, welcoming community that can face future challenges with smart, adaptable solutions.

Your vote is your voice, so make it count!

Regardless of your political affiliation, this local election is your opportunity to influence the future of Littleton. Democracy isn’t just an event every four years; it’s an ongoing process, starting with engagement in our own neighborhoods.

Take time to carefully review your ballot, understand the stakes — especially around measures like 3A — and vote with intention on Election Day. Littleton deserves leaders who listen, adapt, and act with the community’s best interests at heart.

Let’s bring the passion from the No Kings movement into the voting booth. Local democracy is where real power lies. It’s time we take it seriously.