Reflecting on Our Civic Duty
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By Sarah Sweeney
March 8, 2020
Now is the time to make a difference for ourselves and future generations to come. Voting is a powerful mechanism by which a group of people can hold elected officials accountable to act in the best interest of it’s constituents. As public administrators it is our duty to inform ourselves and our communities about the issues and policies to be voted on, and to use them to make responsible social change. We must encourage our young people to exercise their civic duty and make their voices heard in upcoming elections. Young people who are eligible to vote, according to a US News and World Report article, now outnumber eligible seniors in America. There is strength in numbers and the youth of today have the potential to shape future elections that can impact our national economy and policy systems.
Over the past four years we have witnessed the impact one person can make when given the opportunity to lead this Country, and it is up to the people to decide whether or not that person has had a positive or negative impact in this elected position. The right to vote in America has experienced a tumultuous past and it is important to educate our communities on these facts to avoid future pitfalls as a society. As public stewards it is our calling to ensure that everyone eligible to vote understands the privilege that comes with deciding our government’s future.
By taking the time to understand the cultural differences between generations we can begin to understand how to best market communication efforts to engage young people around voting. Pew Research Center published an article about the differences between Millennials and Generation Z and it is helpful to remember historical references when marketing to younger generations around the responsibility to vote. Life experience and personal circumstances can inform a person’s political engagement, as does a person’s exposure to current events and access to voting booths and ballots.
Come November we have the opportunity to make history and it is vital that everyone capable of voting do so for the good of society. It is not my place to tell anyone who they should vote for, or which values and policies are right or wrong. However it is my duty to educate those around me about the benefits of voting and risks of sitting quietly by. Public administration is the implementation of government policy and public administrators are tasked with advancing public service so that governments can function. We must gain the trust of those we serve in our communities before we can attempt to secure votes for any particular issue or politician. As community leaders we must be concerned with social trends and what is important to our residents so that we can best support the policies necessary to make positive impacts.
I would encourage you all to hit the pavement and become familiar with your community and those who live there. What issues are affecting your neighbors, friends and family; and what steps have been taken to mitigate them? Voting is one of the best ways to effect change on a community level and allows for the most voices to be heard. Unfortunately many today believe their voices don’t count, because often times individuals with money or social influence, “Get their way,” and the average person doesn’t see the direct result of their voting efforts; and through education about the voting process we can change that together. You may have heard the adage, “Strength in numbers.” This is more true than ever before. We must come together as a society to effect change on a government level and the power tool of the vote is the way to make it happen.
All public administrators have the skills and experience necessary to motivate community members to vote. These conversations may require some creativity and diligence in sticking to a steady message. I would encourage us all take the chance to boost every eligible member in your community to get their voice heard this voting season, because without every vote we cannot make a systematic difference in our national government. So get out there and make your mark on society today.
Author: Sarah Sweeney is a professional social worker and recent graduate of Seattle University’s Master of Public Administration program in Washington State. She may be contacted at [email protected]
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Reflecting on Our Civic Duty
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By Sarah Sweeney
March 8, 2020
Now is the time to make a difference for ourselves and future generations to come. Voting is a powerful mechanism by which a group of people can hold elected officials accountable to act in the best interest of it’s constituents. As public administrators it is our duty to inform ourselves and our communities about the issues and policies to be voted on, and to use them to make responsible social change. We must encourage our young people to exercise their civic duty and make their voices heard in upcoming elections. Young people who are eligible to vote, according to a US News and World Report article, now outnumber eligible seniors in America. There is strength in numbers and the youth of today have the potential to shape future elections that can impact our national economy and policy systems.
Over the past four years we have witnessed the impact one person can make when given the opportunity to lead this Country, and it is up to the people to decide whether or not that person has had a positive or negative impact in this elected position. The right to vote in America has experienced a tumultuous past and it is important to educate our communities on these facts to avoid future pitfalls as a society. As public stewards it is our calling to ensure that everyone eligible to vote understands the privilege that comes with deciding our government’s future.
By taking the time to understand the cultural differences between generations we can begin to understand how to best market communication efforts to engage young people around voting. Pew Research Center published an article about the differences between Millennials and Generation Z and it is helpful to remember historical references when marketing to younger generations around the responsibility to vote. Life experience and personal circumstances can inform a person’s political engagement, as does a person’s exposure to current events and access to voting booths and ballots.
Come November we have the opportunity to make history and it is vital that everyone capable of voting do so for the good of society. It is not my place to tell anyone who they should vote for, or which values and policies are right or wrong. However it is my duty to educate those around me about the benefits of voting and risks of sitting quietly by. Public administration is the implementation of government policy and public administrators are tasked with advancing public service so that governments can function. We must gain the trust of those we serve in our communities before we can attempt to secure votes for any particular issue or politician. As community leaders we must be concerned with social trends and what is important to our residents so that we can best support the policies necessary to make positive impacts.
I would encourage you all to hit the pavement and become familiar with your community and those who live there. What issues are affecting your neighbors, friends and family; and what steps have been taken to mitigate them? Voting is one of the best ways to effect change on a community level and allows for the most voices to be heard. Unfortunately many today believe their voices don’t count, because often times individuals with money or social influence, “Get their way,” and the average person doesn’t see the direct result of their voting efforts; and through education about the voting process we can change that together. You may have heard the adage, “Strength in numbers.” This is more true than ever before. We must come together as a society to effect change on a government level and the power tool of the vote is the way to make it happen.
All public administrators have the skills and experience necessary to motivate community members to vote. These conversations may require some creativity and diligence in sticking to a steady message. I would encourage us all take the chance to boost every eligible member in your community to get their voice heard this voting season, because without every vote we cannot make a systematic difference in our national government. So get out there and make your mark on society today.
Author: Sarah Sweeney is a professional social worker and recent graduate of Seattle University’s Master of Public Administration program in Washington State. She may be contacted at [email protected]
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