Engage with the US Government
Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:
- Contact government officials in your personal capacity effectively.
- Register to vote, choose a voting method, and cast your ballot.
Before we dive into the details, just another reminder that, in sharing the general best practices outlined here, we are not providing legal advice. Before you undertake civic engagement, you should first review with your employer’s legal department any internal procedures and processes that may apply to such activities.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of federal, state and local government, let’s discuss how you can interact and engage with your elected officials if you live in the US.
Before you jump in, try to become fully educated on the issues. Do your research from multiple credible sources. Learn about different sides and aim to understand why people feel the way they do—even if they vehemently disagree with you. Have difficult conversations and ask yourself questions about how you would respond if you were on the other side. Consider that there might be more common ground and collaboration than you originally imagined if you listen carefully.
Contact Your Local Officials on Issues You Care About
Your government officials want to hear from you, so they offer many ways for citizens to get in touch. If you want to register your opinion on an issue, elected officials frequently tally the number of phone calls, emails, and letters they receive for and against specific legislation. Each of these activities makes an impact. You can visit officials in person as well—simply call or email to make an appointment.
Whichever way you decide to get involved, here are four basic best practices.
- Find your elected official(s). If it is a person who represents a specific area, contact the person responsible for yours. Look up your elected officials here.
- Identify yourself as a constituent—a person represented by that elected official. Elected officials are most responsive to the people whom they represent, and in the case of the US House of Representatives, you can only email them if you are located in their district.
- Clearly state why you’re reaching out and what you want. “I am contacting you to urge you to support SB101 to make Astro’s birthday a state holiday.”
- Be polite. A little bit of kindness can get you a long way!
Finally, don’t get discouraged. At times, the government moves quickly, and the pothole in front of your house will be filled the next week. But some legislation, especially at the federal level, can take years, even decades. Remember: Persistent engagement over time makes all the difference.
Here are a few examples of situations where you might consider getting involved and how you might go about it.
There’s a new housing development proposed in your neighborhood, and you want to get involved.
This is a local issue. Local projects like this are likely to have neighborhood meetings, where you can learn about what is being proposed. You can also contact your local elected official such as your city councilmember or supervisor, or the planning department, for information. When you’re ready to have your voice heard, you can call or email your councilmember or commissioners. And you can attend hearings in person.
You want to find out how your senators and representatives in Congress voted on a bill and let them know how you feel about the vote.
You can look up federal legislation and how your federal elected officials voted on Congress.gov. Once you’ve determined whether you support or oppose your elected officials’ stances, you can write, call, or visit their offices—in Washington or in your local district—to share your personal views on the issues.
Here’s an example of how to ask your representative to vote before they have taken action.
Hi, my name is [Your name] and my zip code is [your zip]. I’m asking the Representative to vote [YES or NO] on [Name of Bill and Bill number] because [Tell your elected official why this legislation matters in his community or state. Choose the three strongest points that will be most effective in persuading legislators to support your position].
Exercise Your Right to Vote
The most essential way you can engage with government is to vote in every election, casting a ballot in favor of the candidates and policies you believe most represent your values and priorities.
Voting is one of the most important things anyone can do to demonstrate respect for democracy. Yet the US has one of the lowest voter turnout percentages among developed nations, at just 56% in the 2016 presidential election. Voter turnout increased in the US by 10% in the 2020 election. However, by international standards, we still have one of lower voter turnouts for democracies around the world.
Get Ready to Vote
If you’ve ever played sports or participated in the Scouts, you’ve learned how important it is to be prepared. The same is true for voting. There are five things you should do in advance of Election Day to ensure that your trip to the polls goes smoothly.
- Register to vote.
- Sign up for election reminders.
- View your ballot.
- Find your polling place or instructions for mailing your ballot.
- Make a plan.
First, make sure you’re registered to vote with TurboVote, our nonpartisan, nonprofit partner. Through TurboVote, you can register or update your registration and sign up for text or email reminders so you don’t miss any last-minute polling place or voting changes. Even if you think you’re properly registered, it can’t hurt to double-check. Life changes like a name change or moving can affect your registration, and you may need to reregister.
State legislatures are constantly updating voting laws, and most states set voter registration deadlines well in advance of Election Day. Currently, only 22 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation to allow citizens to register and vote on the same day, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Additionally, some states require photo identification to vote.
To register and find out about the rules in your state, visit vote.gov.
Next, take a look at the candidates and ballot measures that will be on your ballot at BallotReady.org. This enables you to decide in advance how you will vote and if you need more information to make your decision. And make sure that you go to the right place on Election Day. Usually, your voter registration card includes your polling location. You can find your polling place at GetToThePolls.com.
Make a plan to vote at howto.vote. Take a look at the hours that the polls are open in your location and determine what time you will go and how you will get there. If you need a ride, many organizations can help make arrangements for you. And don’t forget—voting is more fun with friends and family! By sharing your plan with others, you might be able to go to the polls together. Many people also bring their children with them when they vote to inspire their kids to be civically engaged as they grow older.
Finally, get involved and volunteer to be a nonpartisan poll worker at Power the Polls. Due to a shortage of poll workers, local election officials may be required to cut polling locations—show your commitment to make sure every voice is heard this year.
When Do I Vote?
US federal elections always occur in even-numbered years, with presidential elections occurring every 4 years.
All Members of the US House of Representatives are up for reelection every two years, while in the US Senate, terms last 6 years, and only one-third of senators are up for reelection at the same time. Elections at the state and local level vary by location—and there are quite a few states where citizens vote in odd-numbered years.
In most cases, there is a primary election among candidates from the same party in the spring or summer, followed by a general election where candidates from different parties square off on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Some states, but not all, open the polls in advance of Election Day for early voting.
Salesforce believes that an individual’s right to vote is fundamental to a functioning democracy. We believe that democracy is stronger when more eligible people participate. And in the US that means that every eligible person must have equal access to the ballot box. We also believe that our democracy works when elections are secure and trustworthy, when they are fair, and when they are free. We hope you can use the information in this module to become a more active, engaged part of your community.