There are many ways to become politically involved, starting with registering to vote. Educating yourself on the electoral process and issues is important, as is contacting representatives, volunteering for campaigns, signing petitions, and attending meetings. Don’t let apathy or resistance discourage you from getting involved in shaping your government.
Some people would like to be more politically involved in their government, but don’t know where to start. There are many opportunities for political participation, and these run the gamut from minimal to maximal involvement in your government. The first, and least, but probably the most important piece of advice is to be registered to vote. Especially in countries where the ballot elects its leaders, helps determine laws and elects representatives, your involvement in this process by being a registered voter and showing up at the polls, allows you to have a say in how your government works and about who your voice represents on the political spectrum.
While voting may be the single best way to become more politically involved, not all people can vote, such as people under 18. Depending on how much time and energy you have available to participate in the political process, you have a number of options for making your voice heard. If you only have time to vote, the least you can do is become an educated voter. You may need to “educate” yourself about the electoral process and how to understand how the issues you may be voting on affect you.
You can find out more by reading. You could start with a good book about the history of your government and especially about your government’s constitution and your rights. You can also track the pace of politics through a variety of online sources that will help you make choices with intelligence and conviction. If you aren’t able to vote yet, these are still great places to start, and many students learn the basics of history and government in school. While these things may sound “boring,” they help you become more politically involved because you’ll make better choices when you vote based on an understanding of how the political system works.
Being an informed voter is only the first step to political engagement. Through continuous reading and understanding of candidates or issues, another way to become more politically involved is to write or call your representatives and express how you feel about certain issues. Because much of the U.S. political system is based on how our representatives act and create laws, it’s important that representatives know where you stand on issues so they can determine whether they adequately represent their constituents.
Another way to get more politically involved is to participate in a campaign, even at a low level. If you feel that a particular candidate represents your point of view well, you can work to help that candidate get or stay elected through volunteering. Volunteering can take many forms, from helping send out mailers, staffing a campaign office, calling registered voters to ask for their support, or campaigning in your neighborhood to distribute campaign materials. You can decide how far you have time for this involvement, and if you can’t or don’t want to work in an office, many candidates now have active online organizations that allow you to help a campaign from home. Reaching out to your friends and family to discuss a political issue also helps you make a bigger impact.
Other methods of political involvement include signing petitions to help create bills, writing to news organizations to comment on particular laws or candidates, assisting any political party by working on voter registration drives, and donating to political organizations or campaigns. Attending local and/or regional meetings such as city council meetings where you can bring issues that matter to you, or attending PTA or school board meetings allows you to get more politically involved, without spending a lot of time or effort.
In the United States, and in many other countries, there is a certain apathy or resistance to political involvement. People who become more politically involved are seen as hotheads, and some families or friends may never want to talk about politics. Don’t let this discourage you from getting involved in politics, though you should determine the extent to which you want to pressure friends or family members about political issues. Getting politically involved, however, is one means by which you are active in the process of your governance, and if politics is truly determined by ‘people showing up’, your voice, time and concern can help shape the your government, even if your involvement in the process is minor.
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