So,
You've Voted -- Now What?
After The Vote Is Over
Participating
in the voting process is only the first step to actively participating
in the process of democracy. Decisions are made daily, by those you
have elected, and those decisions impact you greatly.
Oftentimes, it
is local decision making which has the most immediate impact on people's
lives. Local residents are engaged in their communities &endash; much
more than you would expect. The League of Women Voters commissioned
a study of Americans' views about the direction of their communities
and found that 72% believe their local community is headed in the
right direction. Americans are joining with others to work on community
issues (56%) and almost half of our population want to become more
involved (46%) (Working Together: Community Involvement in America;
League of Women Voters, 1999).
On the other hand,
in 1994 a national survey conducted by the Daniel Yankelovich Group
found fewer than 1 person in four saying they had "a great deal" or
"quite a lot" of confidence in their local government.
Influence
the Process of Public Decision-Making
There has been
concern, nationwide as well as locally, regarding the perceived apathy
of citizens toward government. Examples of citizen disengagement include
low voter turnout, disillusioned citizens about their ability to influence
public decision-making, and the perception of special interests' influence
over decisions made.
When issues of
local interest are considered, citizens often find themselves placed
in a reactionary mode. By the time the public has a chance to give
input, for example through public hearings, the decision has oftentimes
been made and the citizens leave feeling "put out".
Now is the time
to get involved. Get to know your elected officials. Educate yourself
about how local government works. Volunteer your time in a local project.
