Citizen Participation in the Election Process

As American citizens, we're lucky: We have a say in who represents us in the government and who leads our country. Of course, our voice can only be heard if we make it a point to talk to our representatives and vote on each and every election day, not just during presidential elections.
 
Being an active participant in government means staying informed and always asking, "Are my actions making my vote count?" Being able to confidently cast a ballot during an election also means researching the candidates, knowing the major platforms and studying the major issues at hand.

If you want to be a really active citizen, get others involved in government too. Send flyers around to get people interested, start a petition for a cause that's important to you or your community or volunteer for a political party. There are many ways to get involved.

In this section, we'll discuss the various ways in which you can become an active participant in your government. We'll discuss how to register to vote, how to write letters to your representatives, the election process and more.

Register to Vote

Starting at the age of 18, U.S. citizens are allowed to vote. However, you can only vote if you are a registered voter.

Registering to vote is easy and will only take a few minutes of your time. You can register to vote online, or you can register at your local courthouse. In addition, you can often register to vote when you obtain your driver's license. You might even be able to register to vote at your post office, library or at your public high school or university.

Make sure your voice is heard. Register to vote.

Staying Aware

Being an intelligent voter means being aware of current political topics. In order to understand both sides of an issue, it's also best to listen to people who have differing viewpoints when it comes to political issues.
 
There are many ways you can stay up-to-date and informed. Here are some tips on staying aware.

Volunteering

If you're really passionate about politics or a specific political candidate or party, why not volunteer? Volunteering is a great way to help support the people, organizations, etc., that support the causes that you are passionate about.
 
Due to lack of funds, many organizations are more than happy to have the help of volunteers. As a plus, you'll likely feel good about yourself after volunteering.

Ambassadors to the World

If you're an American traveling abroad, you might encounter people who are curious about American politics and the American political process. People might want to know how we elect our president, or why we institute certain foreign policies.
 
When traveling overseas, it is important to learn how to speak to others politely about American politics. It is also important to learn how to become an ambassador to the world.
 
Resources
 
Constitution Center (2007). Voter Resources. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from the Constitution Center Web site: http://www.constitutioncenter.org/CitizenAction/VoterResources/
index.shtml.