Last week, many millions of Americans woke up to learn the outcome of the 2024 presidential election and experienced a moment that surpassed disappointment and approached devastation. Many millions also woke up and experienced a sense of sheer elation.

Such is the reality of particularly contentious political times in America. When a voting populace (and its elected representatives) becomes as divided and diametrically opposed on core issues as it is right now, each election feels as though it transcends simple democratic process and enters the realm of supernatural stakes, where a defeat is akin to losing some battle in a war for the soul of the nation.

Time will tell if the outcome from last Tuesday will usher in an era of darkness and spell the end of democracy as we know it, or bring about a new era of untold prosperity, or land somewhere innocuously in the middle.

But what is important to remember at this moment, as we enter a period of calm between the transition of power — and Republicans should be learning a thing or two right now about accepting the results of an election with grace and dignity — is that governance, and political engagement with the citizenry must continue, and is more important perhaps now than ever.

The impact of the national election will undoubtedly cast shockwaves that reach into each local community, but nothing that occurs in Washington, D.C., will ever have as much impact in our own towns and cities as what occurs within our State House and in town and city halls.

Rhode Islanders utilized early voting at record levels and made their desires known at the ballot box on Election Day. Now it is up to them to hold their elected officials accountable for carrying out the priorities that residents find most crucial and have entrusted officials to take seriously.

In our part of the state, Warwick and Johnston voters want to know that the schools being planned with gobs of bonded taxpayer money will be sufficient for the community, and whether they can afford the fiscal impact of them for decades to come. Residents in Cranston want clear-eyed leadership on things like rodent control and whether overnight parking should be allowed on residential streets.

Front of mind for a majority of voters was the continuing impact of climate change, which has caused extreme weather events and flooding to become a regular occurrence, and jeopardizes the health and property of thousands of Rhode Islanders. Locally elected leaders and representatives must continue to find ways to make a difference — even within our small scale — to explore ways to prevent, and respond to, its worst impacts.

All of these issues require prudent planning, financial responsibility and a willingness to listen to and collaborate with the members of the communities for whom these issues mean the most. They require those same citizens to remain engaged in the process, even if they feel reluctant or pained to do so following the national election’s outcome.

These are your issues and these are your democratically elected leaders. And this is your local newspaper. We are eager to assist your participation within democracy. Write letters to the editor expressing your frustrations, call us with story tips and remain active in your communities.

Democracy does not live or die with the results of any one election. It lives or dies with the engagement of its populace. We hope that elected leaders and residents alike will continue to put in the necessary work to ensure our system continues to thrive in these contentious times.