This week’s column comes from a segment of the Indiana League of Women Voters ’ Citizens’ Handbook, lightly edited.
Political participation is at the heart of a democratic political system, and there are a variety of ways in which you can contribute to political discussions and the policymaking process.
#1 BECOME INFORMED.
It is easier than ever to get access to information on politics and public policy with the rise of reliable Internet. The default in a democratic political system is that government information should be available to the public unless there are good reasons to withhold it (e.g., personnel decisions, private health information). There are laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act, that govern the release of government information. The state of Indiana has a similar statute called the Access to Public Records Act.
#2 BE AN ADVOCATE.
Advocacy is any general support for a position, idea, or cause. The goal of advocacy is to educate others about an issue and raise public awareness of why that issue is important. Anyone can become informed and advocate to anyone general positions on public policy issues. This can take the form of conversations with friends, posting something on social media, or attending a rally. Find something you are passionate about and share that with others!
However, once you move from supporting a general position or idea to seeking a specific vote or particular policy outcome from a government official or government unit, you have moved from advocacy to lobbying.
#3 LOBBY.
Lobbying is any attempt to influence a politician or public official on a particular issue, bill, or piece of legislation. This can take a variety of forms: letter writing, meeting with public officials, or meeting with legislative staff.
While individuals can lobby themselves, groups often hire professional lobbyists in an attempt to get their preferred policy positions enacted. Paid lobbyists must register with either the federal government or the state of Indiana. If you hire a paid lobbyist, you must register as well. This is done to ensure transparency in the law-making process.
#4 JOIN AN INTEREST GROUP.
An interest group is an organization of like-minded individuals who seek to influence the selection of public officials and the policies they make (e.g., Indiana Farm Bureau, the American Heart Association, or the Indiana Manufacturers Association). This is also a great way to participate in politics with like-minded people on a specific public policy issue.
Interest groups differ from political parties in that parties want to run government, while interest groups instead seek to influence a part of it, often through advocacy and lobbying efforts.
#5 JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY.
A political party is an organization that nominates candidates to compete in elections with the goal of implementing a specific slate of policies. These ideas are often articulated in a party platform.
Political parties can be great places to find like-minded political activists, and they can provide a host of opportunities to volunteer. Parties epitomize the idea that there is strength in numbers. The two main political parties in the United States are the Republicans and Democrats, but there are numerous smaller parties as well.
Indiana Democrats and Republicans also have state and local arms of the national parties, so citizens can get involved at any level of government.
#6 LET YOUR OPINION BE HEARD IN A PUBLIC OPINION POLL.
Public opinion polls are designed to capture people’s opinions on important political issues. They can vary considerably in terms of quality and scope.
Professional pollsters such as the Gallup Poll and the Pew Research Center use statistical methods that can produce reliable estimates of public opinion.
The Hoosier Survey, the only regular, professional public opinion poll of political attitudes in the state of Indiana, is conducted by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University.
#7 ATTEND OR STREAM A PUBLIC MEETING.
One of the hallmarks of democratic government is transparency. Part of this involves conducting government business in public. Most political jurisdictions have some type of open meetings law that requires government officials, legislative bodies, committees, and commissions to give notice of a meeting and a record of the proceedings. The idea is simply that people should be able to watch government officials make decisions and review the results of those decisions.
There are often set-aside times in meetings for public comments on various issues. While this provides an opportunity to directly communicate with government officials in public, you should note that the number of speakers, the time to speak, and the topics that may be addressed are often limited.
Twenty-first-century technology now provides more access than ever to government meetings. Many meetings can now be streamed online and are archived so that people who cannot attend in person can still watch the proceedings.
#8 CONTACT PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
The whole purpose of a representative democracy is that public officials are acting on behalf of their constituents. To act on their behalf, it is helpful to know what people are thinking. This is why it is important to contact your public officials and express your opinions on issues!
There are a wide variety of ways to communicate with government officials: telephone, email, website, public meeting, a one-on-one meeting, or a letter.
There are a variety of Internet sites with good recommendations for contacting public officials.
#9 SERVE ON A JURY.
While some people might view jury duty as an inconvenience, it is an exceptionally important part of our criminal justice system. Juries are a vital check against potential abuses of government power. When you are called, do your part.
#10 VOTE AND WORK THE POLLS.
Voting is arguably the most important way that you can make your voice heard in a democratic political system. Over four and a half million Hoosiers are registered to vote in the state of Indiana.
Things to Remember:
The first step is to register to vote. If you think you are already registered to vote, you can check online.
Consider early voting options, either via mail or in person.
Find out where you vote and review the ballot before you arrive. Research the candidates and the issues.
Encourage friends and family to vote with you!
Get involved and work at the polls. Even if you are not old enough to vote, the state of Indiana’s Hoosier Hall Pass program allows sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds to work at the polls on election day.
Websites such as VOTE411 can help you register to vote, verify your registration, research candidates, and more.