19 Ways to Get Involved with Local Politics: Essential Resources

Anyone of any age can make an impact

Co-authored by Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 Fact Checked

Whether you're feeling frustrated with the state of your federal or local government or just want to become more politically active and make a difference in your community, there are many ways to get involved with local politics so you can create real and lasting change in your town—and maybe even the world! Even if you're still in high school, there are lots of important things you can do to become more politically active in your community. Keep reading for our beginner-friendly guide to getting involved in local politics, with insight from political and communication experts.

Ways to Get Involved in Local Politics

Communication expert Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS, suggests writing letters to your local and state legislature and raising awareness for causes you care about through social media, letter writing, art, and storytelling. Here are some other ways to get involved:

Educate yourself on local politics and register to vote.
Organize or attend community forums and city council and board meetings.
Attend protests and marches.
Start and sign petitions.
Volunteer for local campaigns, engage in local voting drives, or work the polls on election day.

1

Research your elected officials.

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If you're new in town or just haven't been paying much attention, you may not know who's in charge of your local government. The good news is that with the internet, finding out who your town's current representatives are is easier than ever. A simple Google search will pull up information about all the elected officials in your community, or you can find your relevant reps at usa.gov/elected-officials.

Meet the wikiHow Experts

Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS, is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience. He specializes in working with families, children, and couples and treats a variety of psychological disorders, trauma, and abuse.

Bridget Connolly is a trusted member of wikiHow's volunteer community who has volunteered on political campaigns at the local and federal level for over 10 years, most notably for the 2008 Obama campaign in Nevada.

2

Follow local news to stay informed.

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Stay in the loop by reading the local paper and listening to the news. Getting informed isn't a one-time thing—it's an ongoing responsibility. Luckily, there are tons of simple ways to stay up-to-date on local political issues:
- Subscribe to local newspapers and newsletters.
- Follow your representatives on social media, like Instagram or Facebook.
- Watch the local news on TV or listen on the radio.
- Listen to podcasts about local issues.
  - City Cast offers local podcasts in cities all over the country, including Pittsburgh, Nashville, Chicago, and more.

3

Contact your representatives.

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It's one of the best ways to make your opinions heard. Let them know how you think they are doing, what you want to see them do differently, and what you appreciate about their service. Find your local representatives' contact information at usa.gov/elected-officials. There are many ways to reach out:^{[1]
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- Use social media. Reach out over Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, or other social media to share your thoughts. Just remember that your reps' private DMs might not be open, so you may have to leave a public comment on a post.
- Call and speak with their staff members or leave a voicemail. It's best to take notes on what you want to say ahead of time, and remember that you may only have a few minutes to speak over voicemail.
  - Got phone anxiety? If you're nervous about speaking to a real person, try calling after 5 p.m. It's unlikely anyone will be in the office at this time, so you're almost guaranteed to get their voicemail.
- Write a letter or email.
- Visit their office and speak in person.

4

Start or sign a petition.

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Petitions are an impactful way to make your opinion heard. "Politicians are often willing to join in a cause when the majority is pushing for change," notes Dr. Brown.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS
Communication Expert

Expert Interview} Whether you're passionate about improving public transit, alleviating homelessness in your city, or another local cause, a petition is a good way to get your voice heard, raise awareness about the issue, and pressure lawmakers to act. Wondering how to start your own petition? Keep reading:^{[3]
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- Choose an issue and a target for the petition. What specific change are you hoping to make, and which political representative is in a position of power to make that change?
- Keep the language in your petition concise and accessible. Everyone, including the authority figure(s) you're addressing and the citizens signing your petition, should be able to understand the cause and why their participation matters. Generally, aim to keep your petition between 1–3 paragraphs long.
- Collect signatures. Share your petition widely in person and/or online. Share it over social media and email, or in person at school, on the street, or at other public events. Get signees' names, email addresses, and zip codes.
- Deliver your petition. Email or mail your petition to the relevant local official(s).

5

Attend protests and marches.

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There's power in numbers. Protests and marches are great ways to make your voice heard and show solidarity with other politically like-minded people, and they're often safe for people of all ages to attend. Make a protest sign and recite political chants, or just stand or march in silence alongside your fellow citizens.
- If you're still in school, you can even organize or participate in protests in your school.

6

Attend city council and board meetings.

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City council and other board meetings are typically open to the public. As boring as they might sound to some people, they'll help you understand the inner workings of your government and see your representatives in action. They might even be more interesting than you think!^{[4]
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- To find out when and where your next city council meeting will take place, check out your town's official government website.
- Some meetings allow for audience input. Come prepared with questions about policies, rules, or viewpoints you’d like clarification on. Or just sit and listen!
- For a more dynamic and engaging experience, invite friends or family to join you, and then hang out afterward and discuss your thoughts and opinions.

7

Attend town hall meetings and community forums.

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Town halls allow you to learn about local issues and make your voice heard. Town hall meetings differ from most meetings that election officials attend because they are created to interact directly with constituents. Attending one is a way to speak directly to your representatives about issues that matter to you. Most town hall meetings are under-attended, but they are free and take place in public places.
- Check your officials' social media accounts and website, or just call their office to find out when and where the meetings take place. In some towns, you're able to view town hall meetings and forums remotely if you can't attend in person.
- If you're nervous about attending alone, go with a friend to your first few meetings to feel more comfortable.
- Prepare a question to ask if there’s a topic you want to know more about, or just sit and listen quietly.

8

Register to vote.

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Registering to vote is a simple but effective way to make a difference. If you are of voting age and are a legal resident, you are eligible to vote in elections for the area in which you live. While for most states, the legal voting age is 18, 17-year-olds may be able to vote in primaries in some states, and citizens as young as 16 may be able to pre-register to vote.^{[5]
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Research source} Some ways to register are to:
- Go to your state or local election office.
- Go to the department of motor vehicles.
- Register online at vote.gov.
- Remember: If you change addresses, you must update your voter registration.

9

Join a political party, if you want.

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Political parties work together to elect officials who hold their beliefs. Based on your own beliefs, values, and ideas for government, choose the party that is right for you (if any). Register to join the party of your choosing with your regional board of elections. You may be able to register for your chosen party (if any) when you register to vote.
- Remember, you don't need to join a political party, and if you do, you can always change parties if you feel your chosen party is no longer in alignment with your values.

10

Influence others through political art.

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Political art is a great way to spread your opinion. "Sharing images, the public arts, music, poetry, and storytelling" are excellent ways to "bring about substantive change," notes Dr. Brown.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS
Communication Expert

Expert Interview} Artists have been engaging in politics since the beginning of time, and art has the power to bring about major political change. Best of all, creating art with a political or social message is something you can do regardless of your age!
- Make a painting or drawing about a relevant issue and share it to social media or display it in a local cafe or art gallery. You could even organize your own art show and call for local artists to submit work based on a certain political theme, and ask a local space—like a cafe, library, or other public venue—if they would showcase the work.
- Form a band and write political songs. Perform at local venues and upload recordings of your work to social media.
- Write a play inspired by an issue you find important. You may be able to get a local theater or other event space to let you show it.

11

Encourage family and friends to get involved.

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We're stronger together, and everyone's voice matters. Even if you aren't old enough to vote or run for office, encourage the people around you to participate in local politics. Here are some ways you can get friends, family, classmates, and coworkers involved:^{[7]
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- If they're of age, ask them if they've registered to vote and remind them to vote in upcoming local elections. Offer to drive them to their polling place, if you can.
- Help friends and family find reliable information about local issues, political candidates, and elections, as well as how to spot misinformation online.
- Design political posters about when, where, and how to vote and hang them in your school, library, and local businesses (with permission, of course).
- Dr. Brown recommends "encouraging others to reach out to their political representatives."^{[8]
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  Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS
  Communication Expert
  
  Expert Interview} You can even go the extra mile and help them find exactly who to contact and how to reach them, or agree to each reach out to a certain number of politicians in a day for accountability.
- Watch local debates or attend community forums with friends and family. You could even make an event of it and get ice cream or dinner after while you discuss your thoughts!

12

Volunteer for a local nonprofit.

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Many nonprofits are invested in local political policy. Getting involved with a local nonprofit or other community organization is a way to make a direct impact on an issue you feel passionately about. These organizations are often directly involved with local politicians to advocate for their causes. Volunteering your time won't just serve the organization—it'll give you insight into how local government works and how change happens up close.^{[9]
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- If you feel strongly about supporting the unhoused, for instance, you might volunteer your time at a food distribution center. For anxiety and stress management coach Alexandra Janelli, the important thing is to think about "what you want to…change [and] why that's important to you…. [It] starts with really thinking local to make it personal."^{[10]
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  Alexandra Janelli
  Anxiety and Stress Management Coach
  
  Expert Interview}
- Reader Poll: We asked 177 wikiHow readers and 59% of them agreed that their favorite way to get involved in their community is by volunteering for local organizations. [Take Poll]

13

Volunteer your time for a campaign.

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Knock on doors, make phone calls, and support events. This is an exciting opportunity to get to know other people in the organization and the community and to gain invaluable experience. Volunteering on a campaign will give you the foundational understanding you need if you think you might want to run for local office one day.

14

Work for a party organization.

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Whether you take on a position as an intern, employee, or volunteer, working for a party organization is a great way to get involved. Help stuff envelopes, answer the phones, and respond to emails. You'll learn the ins and outs of how the organization is run, and set yourself up to take on more responsibility in the future.

15

Serve as a poll worker.

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It's a valuable way to make a difference on election day. Voting is a great way to make your voice heard—but someone needs to work the polls to make sure the process runs smoothly. When you serve as a poll worker, you get to help with registration, logistics, and supervising a precinct on election day.^{[11]
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- Not old enough to vote? You may still be able to work the polls. In some states, citizens as young as 16 can work the polls on election day. Find out your state's age requirements using the American Constitutional Society's guide.

16

Donate your money to candidates you believe in.

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Use your money to support causes and candidates you believe in. Give to candidates you support, political parties you are affiliated with, and the groups who are doing the groundwork.^{[12]
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17

Vote.

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Make your voice count by voting in local elections. This may sound obvious, but it's the most effective way to have a say in your local government. Believe it or not, many people vote in federal elections, but neglect to vote in local ones, even though—as the cliche goes—change starts at home.
- Remember to vote by adding election day to your calendar or setting a reminder on your phone.
- Vote in person or mail in your ballot ahead of time. Some states require you to have a reason to vote absentee or mail in your ballot, but many do not. Check out your state's rules regarding absentee voting using the National Conference of State Legislatures' guide.
EXPERT TIP

Bridget Connolly
Political Activist
Bridget Connolly has volunteered on political campaigns at the local and federal level for over 10 years, most notably for the 2008 Obama campaign in Nevada and Josh Harder's Congressional race in 2018. She has gone door-to-door to help register voters and get out the vote in both California and Nevada.

Bridget Connolly
Political Activist

I've had so many experiences where every vote counts. If 500 people are registering people to vote in a specific district and we each get 1 person, and a candidate wins by 400 votes, that's a really big deal.

18

Join a citizen advisory board.

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Work with community members to share your views on issues that affect you. Joining a citizen advisory board (also sometimes called a task force or committee) is an effective way to partner up with other citizens and advocate for solutions to causes you're passionate about. Boards typically consist of a group of citizens appointed to offer comments and opinions on a particular issue or project.^{[13]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

Go to source} Members participate by doing research, taking public testimony, reviewing reports, and creating recommendations for local problems.
- Boards are usually created by local governments to focus on specific issues, such as environmental protection, police activity, parks and recreation, or other local and political concerns and projects.
- You can find local boards to join by searching your local government website.

19

Run for local office.

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Be the change you want to see. There is no better way to create change locally than by running for office yourself! If you don’t like what your representatives are doing, take action by running for a local government office.
- Once you choose the office, fill out the paperwork, assemble a team, and begin knocking on doors and making yourself known. If you’re affiliated with a party or group, ask them for support.
- Even if you're still in high school, get involved in student government or join or form political clubs at your school. Depending on where you live, you may even be able to join your local board of education. If you can't, consider making a petition to allow students to join and presenting it to the current board.

References

↑ https://www.attn.com/stories/12921/how-get-involved-local-politics
↑ Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS. Communication Expert. Expert Interview
↑ https://www.aauw.org/resources/policy/advocacy-toolkit/organize-petition-campaign/
↑ http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/15/politics/ways-to-be-more-politically-active-trnd/index.html
↑ https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/growing-voters-18-ways-youth-under-18-can-contribute-elections
↑ Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS. Communication Expert. Expert Interview
↑ https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/growing-voters-18-ways-youth-under-18-can-contribute-elections
↑ Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS. Communication Expert. Expert Interview
↑ https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/growing-voters-18-ways-youth-under-18-can-contribute-elections

More References (4)

↑ Alexandra Janelli. Anxiety and Stress Management Coach. Expert Interview
↑ https://www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/NPWRD_Toolkit_2023.pdf
↑ http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/15/politics/ways-to-be-more-politically-active-trnd/index.html
↑ https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/public-participation-guide-citizen-advisory-boards

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What are the basic ideas behind politics?

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Politics is the process of making uniform decisions that apply to all groups of people.

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I would like to get involved in politics on a local level. Who can I contact?

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Start going to your local city council and board of supervisor public meetings. Find out what their timing requirements are to get items on the agenda for discussion. Start with being proactive trying to solve problems that you care about. Then consider at what level of commitment you want to participate in, possibly run for a council or board position. Also go to your local school board meetings if education is something you are interested in. You may want to attend local water board meetings too.

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How can I be involved in local politics if I was born in another country? I am a US citizen now.

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Since you are a citizen, it doesn't matter where you were born. You can get involved in local politics the same way anyone else would.

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