By: Mike Dunbar, Citizens Count

Election season is here, and it’s hard to turn on the TV or pull up a news site without being bombarded by messaging from candidates and interest groups. Still, if you have a cause you care deeply about, now is a great time to advance that cause by getting involved in the electoral process. In this article, we’ll explore some concrete steps you can take to do just that.

Get clear on your cause, then drill down

Some of us are deeply committed to advancing particular causes, but if that’s not you, that’s okay! One way to find inspiration is to review the list of important NH policy topics on the Citizens Count website (https://www.citizenscount.org/topic). If you already have a cause you’re passionate about, drill down to find out what specific policy debates are happening surrounding this issue. For example, if your cause involves advancing animal rights, find out what proposals on the state and federal level are being talked about, and consider where your ideal candidate would stand on them. You could try researching advocacy groups related to your cause; most of them will indicate what specific initiatives they are currently fighting for or against. 

Get to know the candidates

Depending on your cause, you may be better off focusing either on state level candidates or federal candidates. The easiest way to get started will be to identify who will be on your ballot (https://www.citizenscount.org/elections), and then see if they answered Citizens Count’s survey questions about your cause. You can also check out their campaign websites, though these are often light on substantive policy positions. 

A convenient way to compare candidates’ issue positions is using the Candidate Comparison Tool at citizenscount.org. This feature is accessible to our website members who sign up for a free account with us. Simply select your town and the elected office (U.S. president, governor, State Senate, etc.) and you’ll see a list of all your candidates along with their positions on important issues.

If you can, go a step further. Attend a campaign event and ask the candidate about your issue. In politics this is sometimes called “bird-dogging,” especially if the candidate's answer is recorded and shared. It’s a great way to get candidates to address the issues that don’t come up in more polished media interviews.

You might also consider holding an event to rally others to your cause, and invite a candidate who shares your views—doing this not only allows you to meet the candidate, but illustrates that other voters care about the topic. 

An event doesn’t have to be a fancy rally, though. You can invite a candidate to a local business or nonprofit related to your cause, then host a tour or listening session.

Write a letter to the editor

Another great way to get your message to the masses is by writing a letter to the editor. Local legislators are probably reading these pages more than your average voter, so it’s a good way to reach candidates, too.

Writing gives some of us flashbacks to high school English essays, but don’t worry, you needn’t fancy yourself a writer to write an impactful letter to the editor. Instead, draft a concise summary of what your cause is and why it matters to you. You can back up your ideas with some facts and figures, but try including a short anecdote explaining how the issue has impacted you or your loved ones. Stories are what readers tend to remember. You can read a full step-by-step guide on writing a good letter to the editor here (https://www.citizenscount.org/how-to/advocate/how-do-i-write-letter-editor).

Talk with a legislator about sponsoring a bill

Remember, your legislators are in office to represent your voice as a citizen. This doesn’t just matter when it comes to voting on bills; it also matters when they sponsor new bills for the Legislature to consider. Coincidentally, sitting legislators have a chance to request new bills in September, smack dab in the middle of election season. Newly elected legislators have a chance to request bills after the election in November.

With that in mind, consider whether a change in the state law could benefit your cause. If it would, you can try contacting your legislator about your proposal. It may turn out that advocacy groups related to your cause have already done some of the legwork on this. Either way, discussing how you think the law should change with your legislator is a great way to support your cause. You can learn more about helping bring a bill to life here (https://www.citizenscount.org/how-to/advocate/how-do-i-request-new-law-or-bill). 

These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative as part of its Know Your Vote, Youth Voter Project. For more information visit collaborative.org.

Citizens Count is a nonprofit serving the New Hampshire community by providing objective information about issues, elected officials, bills, elections, and candidates.  These articles are being shared with partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.