GET INVOLVED: Democratic Engagement
Citizens' input to decision-making is not restricted in our democracy to voting in elections, though voting is fundamental to representative governance. As citizens, we are also asked to offer testimony, to deliberate in juries, and contribute comments on policy. Yet the demands of participating can be daunting, as one's input is combined with that of many other contributors. Our capacity to engage depends on collaboration with others, and methods for contributing that merit our scrutiny. The administration of elections themselves requires citizen oversight, particularly in the era of digital online systems.
ICDD supports civic learning for engagement in elections, juries, boards, and other forms of citizen input to governance. In collaboration with non-partisan organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions, we offer resources to help increase the participation of all citizens in our democracy.
Voting
ICDD is a contributor to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge at Kansas State University, a means of preparing students, faculty, and staff for full participation in national elections. The university is one of over 1,000 other colleges and universities registered in the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE), which issues reports of student voter participation in elections:
- ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Action Plan Kansas State University 2020
- Election Imperatives 2020: A Time of Physical Distancing and Social Action
- NSLVE Report Kansas State University 2014 and 2018
- NSLVE Report Kansas State University 2012 and 2016
Interested in contributing to these efforts? Email icdd@k-state.edu
Serving on a Community Board
ICDD supports development of leadership skills by volunteer civic boards, whose work advances democratic engagement across the state. K-State Research and Extension offers a Community Board Leadership series to introduce essential concepts and recommended best practices for citizen boards.
