Make Your Voice Heard
As one of thousands of people in your congressional district, millions in your state, and hundreds of millions in the United States, it can often seem impossible to make your voice heard. But the more powerless you feel, the more important it is to make an effort to be civically engaged. Keep reading for a guide on the best ways to have an impact on American policy.
Vote
According to Census data, only around 60% of Americans over the age of 18 have voted in the last several presidential elections [1]. Among citizens aged 18–29 years old, these rates have been even lower, often falling below 50% [2]. Still fewer people vote when the presidency is not at stake, with turnout often less than 40% [3]. Individuals are often most directly impacted by elections that concern local officials and policies, so by only focusing on presidential elections voters miss the opportunity to decide the local government that affects their everyday lives. Voter registration requirements vary by state. Check out National Voter Registration Application Form for U.S. Citizens, Rock the Vote, or Voter Participation Center for more information on how to get registered.
Lobby Your Representatives
Call your representatives to register your support or disagreement on issues you care about. You can also attend local town hall events with your representatives and other local government officials to ask questions and try to meet in person. Check out Call to Action for information on who to call, or go to your representatives’ websites to find out about events.
Volunteer for a Campaign
If you are interested in supporting a political candidate beyond simply voting for them, there are lots of different ways you can support their campaign. Contact the campaign and find out how you can contribute. Some possibilities include: going door-to-door, putting up signs, participating in a phone bank, and handing out campaign materials outside polling stations on election day.
Comment on Federal Rulemaking
The Administrative Procedure Act generally requires federal executive agencies to follow a “Notice and Comment” procedure when repealing regulations, instituting new regulatory rules, or amending existing rules. Most regulatory and deregulatory proposals must be published in the Federal Register at least 30 days prior to when the proposed regulatory change can go into effect, and the agency must then designate a period of time during which the public can submit comments for consideration by the agency before the proposed regulatory action is finalized [4]. This process is commonly utilized by businesses and special interest groups, but it is available to any individual who may be affected by the regulations under consideration. The organization Citizens Comment filters through dozens of regulation proposals posted by federal agencies each day, and publishes summaries of important potential regulatory changes for individuals to learn about, along with information on how to submit comments to the responsible federal government agencies. Check out their Topics for Comment page for information on pertinent current proposals.
Civic engagement is crucial for a functional democracy. The 2018 U.S. midterm elections will be on November 6, so first and foremost make sure to register and vote! Voting is so important but it is only the first step, so stay involved in ways that you can, all year round.
References
[1] File, Thom. “Voting in America: A Look at the 2016 Presidential Election.” U.S. Census Bureau. May 10, 2017. Accessed August 09, 2018. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2017/05/voting_in_america.html.
[2] Ibid.
[3] DeSilver, Drew. “Voter Turnout Always Drops off for Midterm Elections, but Why?” FacTank. July 24, 2014. Accessed August 09, 2018. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/24/voter-turnout-always-drops-off-for-midterm-elections-but-why/.
[4] Marshall, Edith. “Learn More About the Notice and Comment Process.” Citizens Comment. Accessed August 09, 2018. https://citizenscomment.org/.
