How to Stay Politically Active in the New Year
The midterm elections have ended and elected officials are preparing to take their seats in office. So what happens next? A flight over who will be the next Speaker Of The House? That aside, we still have influence and an obligation to hold our elected officials accountable.
To stay engaged you will want to find a balance between education and action. Take the first step. Look up your candidates at the local, state, and national levels. Make good use of resources to understand the issues and make an impact. Continue reading to learn about what it looks like to stay politically active after the election, and why it is essential in the New Year.
Stay Educated
Start at your own pace and concentrate on the issues you feel most passionate about. This will make it easier to keep up to date with research and current events. If a few come to mind, consider focusing on one issue per month so that when new interviews, articles, or podcasts come up, you have time to absorb everything and pursue it.
To stay politically informed and stay up -to date tune into the ten-minute podcast Up First from NPR or watch the news on demand on Reuters TV App on your smartphone, computer, tablet, or other smart TV devices.
Get Involved
Now that you’ve cast your vote and done your research, it’s time to put the information you have gained to work! Start the conversation about policies and issues you care about. Joining local or virtual organizations that have the same passions as you do can play a huge role in creating change and holding elected officials responsible for the promises they made during their campaigns.
Need help finding organizations that are pushing for the causes you care about, get started with MyCivicWorkout.
Take Action
Fortunately, there are a few ways you can do this! It can be as easy as sending an email to your local representatives, making a phone call, engaging on social media, or attending a city council meeting. Taking these steps can enable your voice to be heard and will start the conversation for change to begin.
To find your local representative’s website and contact page, click here!
Volunteer
Another way to stay active and get involved is by volunteering to get the word out! If you’re not seeing the change you want, volunteer at a place that will benefit your community. You can start by helping to gather signatures, knocking on doors, making fundraising calls, and volunteering at voter-registration drives. Whether you have one day or a week to participate, every hour helps to make your voice heard!
To find upcoming events, petitions and volunteer opportunities visit Mobilize.
