How to Influence Local Politics Outside of Voting in Elections

Let others know how to influence politics

Your voice has power year-round not just on election day.

One way to make sure you're being heard is through local government, which can be one of the best ways to participate in our political system.

Get in touch

The first thing you can do is express your views to the elected lawmakers who represent you. Known as citizen lobbying, this influences your representatives to vote in ways that reflect your opinions.
To share your stance on community issues, call your local representatives, consisting of city council members, mayors, county commissioners, sheriffs, school boards, and so on. Make a statement of what problems impact you directly and what actions you would like them to take.
Attending town halls or city council meetings is one of the best ways to make your voice heard. Meeting agendas are publicly available on your local government’s website, so you can be sure to attend a meeting that addresses an issue you care about. Alternatively, you can request an issue be added to the list of talking points. These meetings usually have a reserved period for citizen participation, during which you can raise questions and concerns.
Successful movements have power in numbers, so find a group to go with. To start, try finding neighbors on Facebook with similar interests as you so you can attend these meetings in a team. Public messaging is an essential part of political action, so be sure to set a clear goal and create a specific message for your group.
If you’re unsure how to begin participating in local government meetings, start by signing up for email updates from your representative.

If you want to take action for your state, try contacting members of Congress or state legislators.
Elected officials have it in their best interest to please their constituents, so they are usually sensitive and open to your views. Call a member of Congress and get someone on the phone, or ask to speak to your direct representative. While they may seem out of reach, they are elected to represent you. Getting in touch helps them make use of our representative democracy.

You can also volunteer for your local representatives by making fundraising calls or canvasing for their campaigns. Ballot initiatives need campaigns as well--you can work to gather signatures or offer help to local organizations.
Use our time and resources. Use this very platform to communicate with your representatives, encourage local residents to get involved, seek donors past the local level, and more.