5 Ways to Get Involved in the Elections

1) REGISTER AND VOTE. The best way to make a difference in a democracy is to vote! Visit the Girls Inc. Legislative Action Center to find out how to register in your state. Keep in mind that most states have registration deadlines about 30 days before the general election on Tuesday, November 2.

2) GET EDUCATED. It's important to understand the issues being debated and to know the candidates and what they stand for. Watch debates, read campaign literature, and visit candidate websites or DemocracyNet, a candidate information service of the League of Women Voters. Talk with the girls in your life about this process and encourage them to voice their thoughts about politics.

3) TELL 10 WOMEN TO VOTE. Although women are 51% of the population, they only make up 14% of the U.S. Congress (women of color are only 3.4%). It's important for women to exercise their political voice and power, and voting is the first step! Talk with your friends about voting. Research shows that personal contact is the best way to motivate someone to vote.

4) VOLUNTEER. Be a part of the process beyond voting. There are a number of ways you can help out by: working at the polls; joining a community voter registration outreach campaign; or volunteering to help a candidate that you support. Contact your local election board, party headquarters or candidates' offices to find out how to get involved.

5) TAKE A GIRL TO THE POLLS. Research shows that exposing a young person to the polls is one of the best ways to ensure they will vote in the future. Take your sister, daughter, niece, friend or neighbor with you when you go to the polls to vote. Or organize a field trip for a group of girls so that they can learn about the democratic process.

5 Ways to Get Involved in the Elections

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