Voting is extremely important and so much more than only participating in the presidential election. Now’s the time to start getting politically active and get ready to vote.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED:

1. Know who your local elected are.

Not sure of who is representing you? 

For a full list of your federal, state, and local elected officials, information on how to contact them, just type in your address here. 

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2. Know how to get in touch with your elected officials (and actually have them listen.)

Tweeting or writing on Facebook is largely ineffective.

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Writing a letter to the district office is more effective than sending an email or writing a letter to DC.

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The most effective way to make yourself heard is to actually call them at their district (state) office. This is because the person on the other line has to listen to what you have to say. They can’t just skim the words as they could with something written.

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Here is a sample of a good script for calling your elected official about a law:

You: Hello, I would like to make a comment to [elected official’s name] about [problem or policy].

 

Staff Member: Certainly. Please go ahead.

 

You: Thank you. My name is [your full name], and I live at [address]. I’m calling to urge [elected official’s name] to support laws that [fix the problem you are calling about - explain that here]. I care about this because [reason].

 

Staff Member: I will give your message to [elected official’s name]. Would you like for him/her to send a response to you?

 

You: [Yes OR No]. Thank you for your time, good-bye.

 

Staff Member: Thank you for your comments. Have a good day.

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3. Identify issues that you are concerned about and pursue them.

You probably already have issues that motivate you to participate in our democracy and don’t need too many resources on this, though here’s a good list of social issues to get you started.

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4. Attend town hall and/or City Council meetings.

A town hall is where you, in person, can make your actual voice heard, in front of local politicians who can actually do something about it. Your congressperson will usually have a schedule of Town Hall meetings on their website, you can check out your city’s website as well. Alternately, you can attend a City Council meeting to get an up-close view of what’s important to your city’s legislators and make your voice heard.

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5. Get to know your local School Board and attend meetings.

If you have children in school, you might already know about your school board but even those without children can be involved. School boards are tasked with the important responsibility of overseeing the education of children in your community. Find out more about what a school board does

and get involved.

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6. Join your local PTA

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Not only can you have direct communication with your school, but you can also volunteer and participate in other ways that directly impact your community. Here’s how (and why) to join.

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7. Join a voting league or political organization.

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A non-partisan group like the League of Women Voters is a good way to get informed, or you can choose a political group that aligns with your values. The Democratic National Committee is committed to electing Democrats at every level and offers training and volunteer opportunities. 

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8. Join a campaign.

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If you find a local politician who represents the change you want to see in your community, contact their office to figure out how you can get involved in the campaign!

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9. Attend (or organize) rallies and events.

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If you find a local politician who represents the change you want to see in your community, contact their office to figure out how you can get involved in the campaign!

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10. Help others get registered to vote.

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Find a local registration event and volunteer or better yet grab some friends and host an event. For more information on how to host an event go to Rock the Vote and sign up for a toolkit or visit The League of Women Voters has some tips!

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11. Get Informed on the issues that matter to you.

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Being an informed voter means being knowledgeable about the issues and positions of candidates when voting. Once you are informed share that knowledge with others. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Democracy demands an educated and informed electorate.” That has never been more important than it is now.

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12. VOTE! In every election, primaries, local, state, and federal.

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Our vote is our voice, but it is only heard when we vote.  Every eligible citizen needs to vote in every election so democracy works for all of us.  When we vote, we win! You can find answers to questions about polling locations, in-person registration here.

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