Election Was Just the Start: Effective Civic Engagement is Ongoing

Prior to the election, many communities were flooded with “get out the vote” messages that worked to increase voter turnout. Now communities and organizations need to provide the next steps to keep residents engaged after  the vote.  Here are some helpful tips to sustain the momentum.

Learn about the newly elected officials 

If your district has newly elected officials, learn where they stand on issues that are of importance to the communities and families you serve. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/ gives a break down of all the winners of the 2008 election. If you don’t have newly elected officials, research your current officials and see where they stand on the issues. I am sure some new promises were made - hold the elected official accountable for their election promises.

What went wrong & what went right at the polls? 

This election was not without its mishaps, so find out if there were issues at the polling place in the communities you serve. If everything was okay, ask what made this voting experience better than previous ones. If there were problems, report these to the board of elections and ask for remedies for the future.

Continue voter registration and voter education 

There are still people who aren’t registered to vote, so provide the community with information on where to register. Keep informing people of their voting rights. For example, can ex-felons in your state have their right to vote restored?

Check status of propositions & amendments  

Did your state vote on any new propositions or amendments? If so, research how they may affect your community.

Start young 

Engage the youth. Provide the young people with opportunities to be active in their community. This can be as simple as a food drive, or just getting a youth focus group together to get their views on what is going on in their neighborhoods.

Keep it local 

Learn about local government: who is your mayor, city/county council people, sheriff, and school board.

Build around your organization’s strength 

Play to your organization’s strength when undertaking any civic engagement activities. Does your organization have strong connections with other community groups? If so, reach out to them for support in your civic engagement ventures.

Advocate 

Advocate on behalf of the people you serve and help them develop their own advocacy skills.

Look outside 

Look around the neighborhoods you serve. Are there any things that stand out? Do you see libraries, parks, sidewalks, and paved streets or countless liquor stores? Contact your city’s office of planning and development, and ask them questions. Request a calendar of city events/meetings from city hall, and provide the community with copies of the calendar.