What counts as civic engagement?

Is Voting Considered Civic Engagement?

Yes. Voting is one of the most fundamental forms of civic engagement because it allows citizens to choose their representatives and influence government.

Lindsay Cormack, an associate professor of political science at Stevens Institute of Technology, emphasizes that voting is an essential starting point for democratic participation.

But civic engagement doesn't stop at presidential elections. Participating in primaries, local elections, school board elections, and state elections also counts.

These elections can have a significant influence on everyday life because local and state governments make decisions about schools, roads, zoning, public safety, and other community issues.

However, voting is only one way to participate in democracy.

Does Volunteering Count as Civic Engagement?

Absolutely. Civic engagement doesn't necessarily involve politics or government.

Volunteering at a food bank, helping organize a neighborhood cleanup, participating in a community garden, or supporting a local nonprofit can all qualify as civic engagement.

Michael Zakaras, director of Ashoka US, argues that healthy democracies depend on strong civil societies where people regularly participate in improving their communities.

These activities allow individuals to contribute to the public good while developing relationships, cooperation, and problem-solving skills.

Another example is mutual aid, where community members organize to help one another meet shared needs.

Angela Glover Blackwell, a civil rights advocate and attorney, emphasizes that mutual aid can strengthen community relationships and encourage people to take responsibility for one another's well-being.

Does Contacting Politicians or Attending Meetings Count?

Yes. Participating in government decisions is another important form of civic engagement.

This might include contacting an elected representative about a proposed law, speaking at a city council meeting, attending a school board hearing, or submitting public comments on government policies.

Megan Gulla, director of partnerships and public engagement at CivicLex, explains that many people don't know how their local government operates or how to participate in its decisions.

Learning those processes is often the first step toward meaningful engagement.

Citizens can also participate in participatory budgeting, a process that allows residents to help determine how public money is spent.

Political scientist Hollie Russon Gilman explains that participatory budgeting gives residents opportunities to propose projects, work with government officials, and vote on funding priorities.

This goes beyond simply expressing an opinion by giving citizens a direct role in public decisions.

Do Protests and Political Campaigns Count?

Yes. Civic engagement also includes organizing around political issues, advocating for change, and supporting candidates.

Examples include attending peaceful demonstrations, signing or organizing petitions, volunteering for campaigns, canvassing neighborhoods, and sharing information about candidates or public policies.

Michele Hornish, executive director of Every State Blue, explains that even simple actions such as sharing campaign information on social media can help political candidates reach more people.

Another form of civic engagement is participating in ballot initiatives, which allow citizens in certain states to propose laws or constitutional amendments for voters to consider.

One example is the North Dakota group known as the BadAss Grandmas. Ellen Chaffee describes how their informal conversations about government problems eventually developed into a grassroots movement that helped establish new ethics and campaign finance provisions in the state's constitution.

Does Community Organizing Count as Civic Engagement?

Yes. In fact, organizing people around shared problems is one of the clearest examples of civic engagement.

Peter Levine, a leading scholar of civic engagement, recommends two approaches: participate in existing civic organizations and help create more opportunities for others to participate.

You might join a neighborhood association, organize residents concerned about traffic safety, or bring people together to improve a local park.

Alex Kramer, co-founder of Knock for Democracy, describes how he began organizing simply by inviting people to his apartment to discuss their concerns and identify opportunities for collective action.

Those informal gatherings eventually developed into coordinated civic activities.

The lesson is that civic engagement doesn't require an established organization or an elaborate plan. Sometimes, it begins with a few people deciding to work together.

What Doesn't Count as Civic Engagement?

Not every activity involving politics or community life necessarily qualifies as civic engagement.

For example, simply watching political news, scrolling through social media, or complaining about government decisions is generally considered political awareness or discussion rather than active civic participation.

However, those activities can become civic engagement when they lead to meaningful public action.

Discussing a neighborhood problem with friends might become civic engagement if the group organizes a community meeting or works together to address it.

The distinction is between passively observing public life and actively participating in it.

Civic Engagement Can Start Small

Ultimately, civic engagement doesn't require becoming a politician, donating money, or dedicating your life to activism.

It can be as simple as voting in a local election, volunteering for an afternoon, contacting a representative, or helping neighbors solve a problem.

As Zakaras emphasizes, one practical starting point is finding an issue you care about and connecting with people already working on it.

If you're taking action to improve your community, influence public decisions, or contribute to the common good, you're probably practicing civic engagement.

Democracy isn't just something that happens in government buildings. It's something people participate in every day.