Getting Involved 101

Getting involved in politics sounds daunting and can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never been involved or it’s been a long time since your high school government class you only paid enough attention to graduate.

If you’re looking to make a difference in your local politics in Texas, here are some fun and empowering ways to get engaged, whether you’re in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Beaumont, or anywhere in between. Let’s wake up democracy with some positive energy!

Before we start, let’s check your registration status to vote in Texas. Even if you think you’re registered, it’s always a good idea to make sure your registration is active and current.

If you aren’t registered, click here.
Note: Print out the application and mail it to the voter registrar in your county of residence, once it is completed. The County Voter Registrar’s address can be found at the top of the online outputted voter registration application once you have submitted your information from the fill-in-the blanks screen. You are not registered until you have filled out the online application, printed it, and mailed it to your local County Voter Registrar.

1. Know Who Represents You

• Identify your city council members, school board, county commissioners, and your state legislators. Tools like my Contacting Your Rep 101 Guide can help you locate these officials .
  • Read more: How to Stay Politically Engaged in Between Election Cycles
  • Read more: 10 Ways to Get Politically Involved
• Make sure they actually represent your district and know how to contact them, via email, phone, or virtual/in-person meetings.

2. Contact & Advocate Effectively

• Reach out when a bill is scheduled for committee, ideally before a vote.
  • Read more: Legislative Advocacy Resources
• Be brief, specific, and courteous. State your name, address, concern, and what action you’d like taken. If applicable, include a bill number.
• Share how issues directly impact your community or life. Offer to be a resource.
• Check out my Contacting Your Reps 101 Guide to easily have a central point for learning who your represenatives are and what to say to them.

3. Join or Volunteer with Civic Groups

• Organizations like MOVE Texas empower historically underrepresented youth through civic engagement and advocacy training.
• Every Texan offers campaigns around healthcare, education, budget, immigration, and more… plus they work with local coalitions across the state.
• In San Antonio, groups such as Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) have secured huge resource wins through grassroots organizing rooted in relational community power.

4. Amplify Your Voice with Online Tools

• Use tools like Resistbot, which lets you send messages to your state and local representatives (or find town halls/voter registration) from your phone in just a few taps.
• Leverage your social media. Share your personal opinions, amplify local issues, or promote events. It can spark movements, especially around underrepresented voices and community causes.
  • Note: I know politics can feel gross on public forums sometimes, you can keep it politically neutral and still speak up about issues that matter to you. Educating your family and friends about things that affect your life personally makes a big impact close to your home.

5. Attend Public Meetings & Town Halls

• Show up to city council or board meetings and speak up!
• Virtual platforms like Speak Up Austin! (or your city’s equivalent) let you submit feedback if you can’t make it in person.
• Use available feedback technology, like real-time polling or comment tools, to influence meeting reports and outcomes.
  • Read More: Capturing and Reporting Community Feedback from Town Halls to Improve Inclusivity.

6. Learn by Doing: Action Civics

• Engage in action civics: identify a community issue, research it, advocate publicly, and reflect on your impact, practicing real civic skills along the way.
• Many youth-focused organizations and schools (like iEngage Baylor) offer programs to help you go from question to action.

7. Serve on Advisory Boards or Commissions

• Cities like Dallas and Austin welcome citizens to join local boards or commissions, giving you a say in advisory or oversight roles that shape city policies directly.
• Keep an eye out for vacancies and apply your experiences and passions.

8. Know Important Election Dates & Deadlines

These dates can be the difference between voting and missing your opportunity. Make sure you schedule vacations and surgeries accordingly.
Check out Texas Important Election Dates & Deadlines to stay informed.

Tip: Add them to your Google or Apple calendar.

9. Mobilize Your Community

• Encourage friends, family, or your classmates to vote, show up, and speak out. Personal conversations can be unexpectedly powerful, even more than ads or mass campaigns.
  • Read more: How to Get People to Vote
• Host voter or civic-themed hangouts to make engagement feel social, not daunting.

Bonus: Focus Locally, But Think Creatively

• Highlight civic news: for instance, community scrutiny in Houston over local development boards and demands for more transparency.
  Source: Houston Chronicle
• In Beaumont, neighborhood leaders are pushing for residents to more actively shape infrastructure bond decisions, only 11% currently participate. Source: Beaumont Enterprise
• In San Antonio, advocacy groups remind leaders like the mayor to prioritize grassroots power over institutional politics for real change.
  Source: San Antonio Express News

Recap: Your Action Plan

1. Identify your representatives and register to vote.
2. Choose an issue you care about (education, housing, etc.)
3. Join a civic group (MOVE Texas, Every Texan, COPS, etc.)
4. Amplify Your Voice with Online Tools, like Resistbot.
5. Attend public meetings or use online engagement tools.
6. Start or join an action civics or community campaign.
7. Apply to local boards, commissions, or your county party’s precinct chairs when openings appear.
8. Know important election dates & deadlines
9. Invite your friends to get involved too!

You’ve got the energy and the drive! Now’s the time to turn that into real civic power in Texas. Every step you take opens the door for more voices, better representation, and a more vibrant democracy. Need help finding local groups or issue networks near where you live? Just drop a comment, I’d love to help you dig in!

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