11 Ways to Get Involved Post-Election
New Yorkers are increasingly searching for more ways to make their voices heard. We’ve heard this refrain for the last several years, but it has grown louder after the 2016 election and it was a major theme at our recent voter assistance hearing.
With the 2017 citywide elections less than a year away, now is the perfect time to make a new commitment to getting involved in local politics. And there are so many different ways to do so. After all, decisions made by local elected officials have a huge impact on our daily lives, influencing issues like affordable housing, education, homelessness, policing and public safety, and much more.
Listed below are a variety of opportunities to make your voice heard in 2017 and beyond.
Initial steps to civic engagement:
- Register to vote – and VOTE
It’s not worth waiting until the last minute. Make the commitment to register, or re-register, today. When you register to vote, consider joining a political party that fits your views. This will allow you to vote in that party’s primary in 2017 (if you are registering to vote for the first time). And when the elections come, have a plan and make sure you vote.
- Attend a community board meeting in your neighborhood
Community boards across the city help decide land use and zoning issues, assess the needs of their own neighborhoods and address other community concerns that directly affect people’s livelihoods. Attending the next community board meeting in your area can be an excellent step on your path to becoming more civically engaged.
- Sign the Vote Better NY petition
Vote Better NY supports the passage of state legislation that would enable early voting, automatize and modernize voter registration, and create a more legible ballot. Sign this petition to let your elected officials know that you are in favor of these election reforms.
Take your voice to the next level:
- Volunteer for your local community board
See #2 above – volunteering on your community board is the next logical step once you’re a regular attendee. Boards have committees that address various important issues facing the community. Help your community address an issue that’s important to you.
- Conduct a voter registration drive in your community
Registering voters is an excellent way to encourage civic engagement within your community. NYC Votes partners with dozens of agencies and organizations across the five boroughs to register New Yorkers to vote. The CFB also hosts trainings for community partners on conducting voter registration drives and outreach efforts.
- Join the Vote Better NY campaign for election reforms
See #3 above – after signing the petition, stay tuned for more information about our lobbying day in Albany, when New Yorkers can bring these issues directly to the elected officials’ doorsteps.
- Call your elected officials to voice your concerns, or better yet, schedule a meeting
When you call your elected officials, their staff members are required to answer the phone and listen to your concerns. Organize your friends to place calls on the same day to drive the message home. Calling the in-district offices can be more effective than writing a letter or email, though the most effective way to make sure your message is received is to show up in person – see #6. Find your local representatives at the NYC League of Women Voters’ site, Who Represents Me.
- Take part in the participatory budget process
The participatory budget enables community residents to decide how a portion of a public budget is allocated. Community members can vote on project proposals that often include improvements to schools, parks, libraries, public housing, and other public spaces.
- Become an active member of a union, political party, political clubs or other interest groups
Unions, political parties, political clubs and interest groups rely on active participants to volunteer their time. Millions of New Yorkers belong to unions and political parties, but few are actively engaged in the day-to-day work these groups do in local politics. All of these groups organize volunteers to knock on doors and place phone calls to help get out the vote for candidates. Unions play an important role in our electoral system, especially at the local level, where candidates can gain endorsements from organizations that represent more than two million working New Yorkers. County committees are the most local level of party governance. They choose local judicial candidates, play a role in selecting party nominees in special elections, and assist in creating the party platform. Local political clubs are active in many neighborhoods throughout New York City. These small organizations are another way to get involved at the hyperlocal level.
- Work for a political campaign
Campaigns operate like short-term businesses. They need workers with expertise in public relations, accounting, law and many other fields. Consider how your professional skills might help your favorite candidate as a volunteer or even as a paid employee.
Getting down to business:
- Run for public office
While the 2017 citywide elections are less than a year away, there’s still time to file as a candidate for City Council, borough president, comptroller, public advocate, or even mayor. New York City’s public matching funds program – administered by the Campaign Finance Board – enables New Yorkers with new ideas to run competitive campaigns, without having to rely on big money from special interests. Once you qualify, the city matches small contributions from NYC residents at a $6-to-$1 rate for candidates running for positions in City Council and other city offices.
Although by no means comprehensive, this list should provide a general idea of ways to engage your community members and elected officials, ensuring that your voice is heard on Election Day and beyond. So don’t just vote – stay active, stay engaged, and keep fighting for what you believe in.