Getting Into Local Politics? 4 Tools You Can Use to Get the Word out There

It’s more important than ever to be involved and working towards positive change in local communities and governments. With people increasingly divided, and more and more at stake, being a voice for unity and progress can be appealing even for people who never considered going into public service during calmer times.

For anyone who hasn’t previously run for elected office, though, it can be intimidating to try to get noticed in a sea of more established candidates. While there’s no magic bullet, there are quite a few tools available to prospective local politicians to help them reach constituents. Below are some of the most effective.

Political Campaign Text Messaging

People have their cell phones with them all day, which makes political campaign text messaging an easy way to get their attention. Sending a list of constituents and likely voters text messages with campaign updates and ways to get involved is a great first step to becoming a household name. It’s also an instantaneous way of reminding busy community members of when and how to vote, donate, and get involved. Though these messages are by necessity short, they can be just long enough to get the point across.

Social Media Presence

Social media has become ubiquitous in most people’s lives, and using a diverse range of platforms ensures that an aspiring politician can reach various age groups and demographics. From being active on the local Nextdoor, to maintaining a Facebook and Twitter presence, social media is a cost effective and easy way for representatives to get to know the residents they serve on a more personal level.

Neighborhood Council Meetings

As wonderful as written communication can be, nothing beats in-person meetings, such as at neighborhood council meetings. Not only do these meetings give the neighborhood residents a chance to get to know their prospective politicians, but it gives those same politicians a chance to get to know the unique problems brewing in their area. Are the streets full of potholes? Is the police response to crime too slow? Is one particular intersection a magnet for accidents? All of these issues and more will be brought up at neighborhood council meetings, providing you not only information but an opportunity to be seen as a problem solver.

Snail Mail Campaign

Rounding out the communication smorgasbord is words on paper. As wonderful as the text messages are, and as helpful as social media can be, there are still plenty of people who will only be reached by a letter right to their home. Not everyone takes the time to seek out data about their local politicians, but even those who don’t may appreciate the information arriving literally at their doorsteps.

Ultimately, none of the ways of reaching out to constituents will matter without having something substantial to say. The first step is knowing the issues and having viable solutions to the problems. Step two, and the step that these tools will help to conquer, is gaining the trust of residents and earning the opportunity to tackle those issues.