Taking Action Locally
With so much focus on the upcoming presidential election,
it’s easy to forget that what happens in your own city or county can have an
even greater impact on your day-to-day life.
If you decide to be a force for good (and maybe a necessary change agent!) in your state or local community, you will likely have a more profound impact on the day-to-day lives of the people around you.
Perhaps you need to expose a problem in your local schools. Maybe equipping Christians to vote is your passion. Or you could be concerned for the integrity of your elections.
While iVoterGuide’s mission is to help you cast an informed vote, you might be eager to do more! Now’s the time to start thinking about how you can get involved, and various areas where you can focus your efforts:
- State
- County
- Municipal
- School District
- Your Precinct
For example, most people are aware of the national political parties, but did you know state and local parties have even more impact on the politics that affect your community? You may be able to help your precinct chair get out the vote in your neighborhood. It’s also a great opportunity to distribute iVoterGuide's flyers to your neighbors so they can make an informed decision!
Your church is an ideal place to find other people who share your conviction for applying biblical principles to make a difference in your community. It’s also a great place to distribute our materials that are specifically designed for churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations.
Serving as a poll worker is another effective way to serve your community and help protect the integrity of your election. It wasn’t until later in life that I became aware that this opportunity is open to people like you and me! You can visit the United States Election Assistance Commission to find out how to apply in your county.
Thankfully, you don’t have to act alone! If there’s an issue you’re passionate about, chances are there is already a group or organization with whom you can join forces.
We are blessed to partner with over 60 organizations whose opportunities for engagement include pro-life work, pastor involvement, parental rights, election integrity, and grassroots activism. If you visit our partner page, you might just find one you can connect with!
I want to encourage you with the story of one of our partners, Moms for Liberty. The founders of this parental rights group are former school board members who were disheartened that no conservative mom groups ever spoke at their school board meetings—all the pressure came from liberal groups. So, they formed Moms for Liberty, and it rapidly expanded across the country as many others saw this need as well. It is just one of many groups that you might engage with locally!
If there’s no existing group for the issues on your heart, you might be surprised at the number of like-minded people waiting for someone to take the initiative!
But the first, and most important, action is prayer. That is the one thing we all can, and must, do. Perhaps you are not able to get involved right now. Your job is to pray for those who are, and pray about the issues that are affecting your community. Psalm 127:1 reminds us,
“Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.”
Will you pray about how you can enter the Lord’s work in your city, state, or neighborhood?
