While votes across the country are still being counted, it is still important to be informed about civic participation outside of the presidential election. Local elections and down-ballot votes help shape the communities we live in, and you can usually see the impact for these firsthand. Enjoy the first installment of our “Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation” initiative, (administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation), Voting Issues in the Gem State. This panel is made up of three highly qualified professors from Boise State University. They shed light and add their perspectives into issues facing voters in Idaho and how these issues transcend out to the US. Stay tuned for updates and additional programs within this initiative.