Action Steps
Action Steps to “Get Involved!”
Learn more about the candidates.
Join ID Action.
ID Action is free and offers you many benefits to help you achieve your political participation goals. Click here to register.
Take advantage of ID Action grant opportunities.
Learn about the issues.
It’s important to know the candidates and to think about which issues are important to you.
- Click here for election dates.
- You can also get information from the political parties:
For Republican Party information, click here.
For Democratic Party information, click here.
For Green Party information, click here.
For Libertarian Party Information, click here.
For Socialist Workers Party Information, click here.
For Constitution Party Information, click here.
Join a political party or work for a candidate.
The next step is to assist a candidate. Volunteers are the backbone of the political process. Research and identify what political party or candidates that you believe in. There are many opportunities to participate on their teams. For more information, check out the following Web sites:
Iowa Republican Party
www.iowagop.org
Iowa Democratic Party
www.iowademocrats.org
Iowa Green Party
www.greens.org/iowa
Serve on a board/commission or task force.
There are many opportunities to serve on local and statewide boards or commissions. Some are elected positions, many are appointed and some even rely on volunteers. On a local level, contact your city clerk. To review opportunities to serve on state boards, click here.
Work at a local polling station.
Contact your county auditor for more info.
Contact your legislator.
Click here for more information.
Build a coalition.
A coalition is a group of individuals or organizations dedicated to a similar issue, cause or event. Specifically, “an alliance of factions formed for a specific purpose.” It’s an effective way to influence legislation or public policy because coalitions provide additional credibility and political weight of like-minded people or organizations, assuring broader reach and attention.
A successful coalition must have buy-in from its participants, who must also believe the initiative is part of their own personal agenda. In addition, they need to have an active role in the decision-making process.
Here are some suggestions to build a coalition:
Step 1 - Take Action
- Don’t assume someone else will come forward to advocate for an issue that’s particularly important or relevant to you. Only one person needs to launch the coalition. Develop an initial description of a coalition and what it must achieve.
Step 2 - Communicate
- Make a list of people and groups that might be interested in joining. Begin collecting emails and contact information from interested parties. Start an emailing network.
- Talk to representatives of aligned groups and opinion leaders. Ask them to discuss and consider joining the coalition.
- Sponsor an initial meeting and invite representatives of groups and opinion leaders to attend. Communicate the mission/vision and consider diversity in your invitation list.
- At the first meeting, make sure everyone has an opportunity to express ideas, but focus on setting actionable goals that have a majority of support.
- Build your membership through word-of-mouth and emailing networks. Have at least one official meeting per quarter; the rest of your business might easily be handled by email and field visits. Set up an informal chain of command so you have people to whom you can delegate tasks and projects. Implement a targeted public relations campaign.
Step 3 - Move forward
- Set future meeting dates and begin dividing up tasks. Be sure to take advantage of strengths of different members or organizations. Don’t schedule too many meetings as that can quickly kill a growing coalition.
- Keep the coalition simple. Create a simple structure with a board of directors. Do not require members to pay dues.
- Build a simple Web site to share information and resources on a particular issue.
- Refine your mission/vision.
- Encourage outreach or community awareness when it can be linked to a relevant event.
- Send letters to local elected officials, introducing your group and your interest.
- Share resources and ideas, and cosign or co-brand letters, op-eds and other communications.
- Make sure everyone has a say. It’s an ongoing process of keeping members informed and letting participants vote on issues.
Run for Office.
To find out requirements for running for office, click here.
Other resources include:
www.civic-strategies.com/library/public_office.html
www.newtoncitizens.com/LWV/cand.html
How to Run for Local Office: A Complete, Step-By-Step Guide that Will Take You Through the Entire Process of Running and Winning a Local Election
by Robert J. Thomas, Doug Gowen (Editor), Joseph M. Marshall (Photographer)
How to Run for Public Office and Win: A Step-by-Step Guide
by William P. McCue
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