Engage in Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard.

   📣  Register to Vote! 

• Voting is one of the most important ways to participate in our democracy. Find more information via the Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Youth Participation resource, RU Voting 

• Ballot Ready: Ballot Ready is a nonpartisan guide to local, state, and national elections, including information on registering to vote based on where you live. 

   📣  Learn Who Your State Representatives Are 

• Ballot Ready: Ballot Ready is a nonpartisan guide to local, state, and national elections, including candidate comparisons and ballot measures. Simply type in your address, then you will be able to research upcoming elections, view ballots, register to vote, find your polling place, and see who represents you! 

• USA.gov: USA.gov is an official government website where you can quickly find and contact your elected officials (among other great resources).

   📣  Learn More About Upcoming State Elections 

• The best way to know when your state elections are coming up is to check your city/state website. There are other resources available, like Ballot Ready! 

• Ballot Ready: Ballot Ready is a nonpartisan guide to local, state, and national elections, including candidate comparisons and ballot measures. Simply type in your address, then you will be able to research upcoming elections, view ballots, register to vote, find your polling place, and see who represents you! 

       📣 Call (or Email) One State Representative About an Issue That Matters to You 

• 5 Calls: 5 Calls is a platform that helps you easily make calls to your representatives to advocate for the political issues that matter to you, which can influence policy decisions and outcomes. Just enter your location and it will populate scripts based on what’s important to you, so calling is a breeze! 

  • TIP: If you would rather leave a voicemail, you can call your representative after hours. 

• If you don’t feel comfortable calling your representative, you have other options. You can send them an email with your concern or comment. Just use Ballot Ready’s “Meet Your Representatives” tool, then use the “contact” button to see their email addresses. When writing an email, use this guide (by the American Planning Association) to help you out. 

  • You can also submit a comment to your representative by finding their website! Most representatives will have an option to contact them directly on their page.

   📣  Sign One Petition on a State Issue 

• Signing a petition can help influence decision-makers at the local, state, and national levels. Browse and support causes you care about at Change.org. 

   📣   Engage on Social Media: Follow State Advocacy Groups That are Meaningful to You 

• To stay informed, follow advocacy and nonprofit organizations that reflect your interests or what you care about. To amplify their message, take a look at the hashtags that they are using and use those in your own posts! 

   📣   Engage on Social Media: Share At Least One Social Media Post by a State Representative 

• Re-post at least one social media post by your representative that inspires you! This will help amplify their message and can engage your community too by using your platform as a vessel for change. Consider following them too! 

   📣  Sign Up for Your State Representative’s Newsletter

• Signing up for your representative's newsletter is a great way to stay informed about state issues and upcoming events. Just visit their official website and look for the newsletter subscription section to get started.

   📣   Donate to an Organization That Supports People Across NJ (or your home state) (if available to you) 

• Nonprofits, especially in 2025, are in need of donations and any amount can help. To find an organization to donate to that is aligned with your interests politically, you can research nonprofits through platforms like GuideStar, Charity Navigator, or directly explore political action committees (PACs) and advocacy groups that align with your values and causes. 

  📣   Invest in Your State-Wide Community, Do Something Small 

• Investing in your community can be as simple as paying for someone’s coffee or checking in with the neighbor for a friendly chat.

   📣   Engage on Social Media: Follow Eagleton Institute of Politics  and Our Centers on Social Media 

• Eagleton Institute of Politics:  

  • On Instagram @ru_eagletoninstitute 

  • On X @Eagleton_RU 

  • LinkedIn: Eagleton Linkedin  

  • Newsletter: Eagleton Newsletter  

• Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) 

  • On Instagram @womenandpolitics 

  • On BlueSky @@cawp-ru.bsky.social 

  • On LinkedIn: CAWP Linkedin 

  • Newsletter: CAWP Newsletter 

• Center on the American Governor (ECAG)  

  • On X @ECAG_RU 

  • On LinkedIn: Eagleton Center on the American Governor 

• Center on Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) 
  • On X @Eagletonpoll 

• Center for Youth Political Participation (CYPP) 

  • On Instagram @rutgerscypp

  • On X @RutgersCYPP 

• Eagleton Science and Politics Program 

  • On LinkedIn: Eagleton Science and Politics Program 

• Rutgers Democracy Lab 

  • Instagram @rudemocracylab 

📣   Check out the RDL's Media Literacy Page for Information on Fact-Checking and Unbiased News Sources

   📣   Call (or Email) More Than One of Your State Representatives and Make Your Voice Heard 

• 5 Calls: 5 Calls is a platform that helps you easily make calls to your representatives to advocate for the political issues that matter to you, which can influence policy decisions and outcomes. Just enter your location and it will populate scripts based on what’s important to you, so calling is a breeze! 
• If you don’t feel comfortable calling your representative, you have other options. You can send them an email with your concern or comment. Just use Ballot Ready’s “Meet Your Representatives” tool, then use the “contact” button to see their email addresses. When writing an email, use this guide (by the American Planning Association) to help you out. 
• You can also submit a comment to your representative by finding their website! Most representatives will have an option to contact them directly on their page. 

   📣   Attend a Town Hall 

• Town halls are open meetings that are hosted by your representative with the goal of engaging the community, particularly to better understand their thoughts on policy decisions, community issues, ask questions, and more. Attending a town hall is a great way to engage with democracy by voicing your concerns and/or your support! 
• The best way to find a town hall near you is to stay in touch with your representative via social media, their website, and/or a newsletter. 
• NJ State House Tours: Participating in Legislative Activity: The New Jersey State House encourages citizens to participate in the legislative process. You can attend legislative sessions and/or committee meetings. You can even take a free tour and learn more about the history, art, and architecture of the NJ State Capitol in Trenton, NJ.  

   📣  Attend a Public Action or Advocacy Event 

• Rallies, demonstrations, and educational events bring visibility to key issues. Before you head out know your rights.  

  • The ACLU Protesters’ Rights Guide: The ACLU offers a guide on your rights as a protester. Always review this before you engage in a public demonstration. 

   📣  Create Your Own Informative Post 

• Share with your community about something that matters to you. Use your platform as a vessel for change. 

  • Spot and Stop Misinformation: Make sure that you are not spreading misinformation and that you are using reliable sources! As misinformation is becoming more and more common, it is imperative that all citizens are educated on news literacy (the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information). Check out the RDL’s Media Literacy page. You can learn more about news literacy via the News Literacy Project and check the facts via FactCheck.org. 

   📣  Talk to Those in Your Community About State Issues That Impact Them 

• Discussing important issues with your community—whether with friends, family, or colleagues—can lead to greater awareness and collective problem-solving. Effective civic engagement starts with listening, sharing reliable information, and being open to diverse viewpoints. Dialogue Across Difference offers resources and workshops to help navigate conversations on complex and polarizing topics with respect and understanding. 

• Start by making sure you are sharing reliable information and open to other perspectives. By advocating and sharing information in your circles, you can create a sense of collective action and motivation. 

  • Spot and Stop Misinformation: Make sure that you are not spreading misinformation and that you are using reliable sources! As misinformation is becoming more and more common, it is imperative that all citizens are educated on news literacy (the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information). Check out the RDL’s Media Literacy page. You can learn more about news literacy via the News Literacy Project and check the facts via FactCheck.org. 

   📣  Sign Multiple Petitions on State Issues 

• Signing a petition can help influence decision-makers at the local, state, and national levels. Browse and support causes you care about at Change.org. 

  📣   Sign Up for One Volunteer Shift (1-1.5 hours) at a Statewide Organization  

• Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and build meaningful connections.  

• Jersey Cares: Jersey Cares is a way to find volunteer opportunities in New Jersey based on community needs. This is a great way to quickly get connected with an organization that suits what you are looking for. 

  📣   Support Your Community 

• Supporting those in your community who need it most is one of the best ways to feel connected and empowered to make change. It can be something small, like buying someone coffee, or something larger, like donating food to your local food pantry. Either way, you are making a difference.  

• In NJ, you can donate to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, which is NJ's largest anti-hunger organization. 

  📣   Attend an Event About State Politics Hosted by the Eagleton Institute of Politics  

• Here at Rutgers, the Eagleton Institute of Politics often hosts nonpartisan, educational events where you can learn more about current events, meet your representatives, engage with community members, and more. Sign up here: EIP Events 

  📣   Learn More About the Lawmaking Process in New Jersey 

• NJ State House, The Lawmaking Process: This page of the NJ State House website includes an overview of the lawmaking process in NJ. Read through the page for a brief overview of how your representatives spend their time in Trenton making decisions that impact YOU and your community! To learn more about how to impact the legislative process, read more here.   

  📣   Take a Class in Advocacy 

• Many professional societies offer training in collective or political action to help you effectively engage in the policymaking process.  

• The National Science Policy Network provides advocacy training for scientists and technologists, equipping participants with the tools to communicate their expertise, develop advocacy plans, and engage policymakers at all levels of government. 

  📣   Learn More About How to Spot and Stop Misinformation 

• As misinformation is becoming more and more common, it is imperative that all citizens are educated on news literacy (the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information). Check out the RDL’s Media Literacy page. You can learn more about news literacy via the News Literacy Project and check the facts via FactCheck.org. 

  📣   Run for State Office 

• Serving in an elected office is a powerful way to make a difference in your community. If you're considering a run, start by identifying which office aligns with your interests and experience—local school boards, city councils, state legislatures, and federal seats all have different responsibilities. Research eligibility requirements, election timelines, and the needs of your district. Building a campaign includes gathering support, fundraising, and developing a clear message. Many organizations offer training for first-time candidates, including those by Rutgers University Eagleton Institute of Politics: RU Running and CAWP’s Ready to Run for students and emerging leaders. 

• Ballot Ready: Ballot Ready is a nonpartisan guide to local, state, and national elections, including candidate comparisons and ballot measures. Simply type in your address, then click “Run for Office” and it will give you the option to learn more about offices that are up for election locally and how to get started on running for them! 

• How to Run for Office in New Jersey: An overview of how to run for office in New Jersey by Ballotpedia to get you started. 

  📣   Training Programs and Resources Based on Identity and/or Political Affiliation:  

• RUTGERS STUDENTS:  

  • RU Running? (Hosted by CYPP):  RU Running? is an interactive political campaigning workshop for young adults, particularly Rutgers students, interested in running for office. The training features breakout rooms from New Jersey-based campaign experts on fundraising, campaign communications, and creating a successful campaign strategy.  

  • Young Elected Leaders Project (Hosted by CYPP): Launched in 2002 with funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Young Elected Leaders Project (YELP) studies and works with young people who run for or hold public office. They provide unique insight into youth representation in U.S. political institutions and study young leaders’ experiences in public office. 

• WOMEN CANDIDATES:  

  • Ready to Run® Campaign Trainings for Women (Hosted by CAWP): Ready to Run is a national network of non-partisan campaign training programs that are committed to electing more women to office. Ready to Run, over 2 days, will set you up with “how to” instructions on running, fundraising and media skills, strategies, a better understanding of party politics, and more.  

  • CAWP Women’s Political Power Map: Find resources, organizations, training programs, and more across the country for women interested in running for office, working on political campaigns, or holding appointive office. 

  • Other organizations (both nonpartisan and partisan) dedicated to elect more women to office with candidate training resources and more information: Running Start (young women, nonpartisan), She Should Run (nonpartisan), Emerge America (Democratic women), Emily’s List (Democratic, pro-choice women), The Campaign School at Yale University (nonpartisan) 

• PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES: 

  • Run for Something: Run for Something is a non-profit that is focused on supporting progressive candidates who are interested in running for local office. If you sign up for more information, they will guide you through the beginning of the process via a conference call and more information. 

    •  On Instagram @runforsomethingnow 

• CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES 

  • Run Gen Z: Run GenZ is empowering, recruiting, and mentoring the next generation of conservative leaders to run for office. 

    • On Instagram @run.genz

• CANDIDATES WITH SERVICE BACKGROUNDS (military, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, etc.) 

  • New Politics: New Politics offers a program specifically for candidates with service backgrounds -- whether that is the military, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps -- who are interested in running for office. If you fill out their interest form, they will get back to you to build a campaign that feels right for you.  

• LGBTQ+ CANDIDATES 

  • LGBTQ Victory Institute: LGBTQ Victory Institute invests in the next generation of LGBTQ+ public leaders by offering training programs for candidates.  

• FIRST- OR SECOND-GENERATION AMERICAN CANDIDATES 

  • New American Leaders: New American Leaders is an organization that is focused on training and mobilizing New Americans (first- and second-generation immigrants) to run, win, and lead in public office. They offer a variety of programs for interested candidates. 

• More Resources

  • Non-Exhaustive List of Training Programs by the Victory Institute 

   📣  Get Appointed to State Office 

• Did you know that there are hundreds of thousands of positions available on state, county and local boards and commissions around the country? Did you also know that appointed positions often have significant policymaking authority? Researching boards, commissions, and elected positions can help you find the right fit. This Essex County, NJ guide is an example of the resources available to help you navigate the process in your area. Check it out here. 

   📣  Become a Citizen Lobbyist 

• Attend legislative hearings: Open public hearings happen all over the country almost every week. Look at the schedule for upcoming hearings on issues or committees you care about. Take a drive to your statehouse and check them out. Learn about the process. Get to know the elected officials working on the issues you care about (committee members, etc.) 

• Give testimony at legislative hearings: Anyone can sign up to give testimony at a hearing. Make your voice heard. Do your research and prepare your remarks. Here’s a guide from the Oregon Legislature on how to give testimony. 

• Contact your elected representatives: Write, email, and call your elected officials – the only way they know how you feel about an issue is if they hear from you. Make this a regular habit; don’t take for granted that others are doing it or tell yourself it doesn’t matter. Find out who your state and local representatives are and make a point to contact them about state and local issues. 

   📣  Volunteer for a State Candidate’s Campaign 

• Getting involved in a political campaign is a hands-on way to support candidates and causes you believe in. Whether you’re knocking on doors, making phone calls, or helping with social media, campaigns rely on volunteers at every level.  

• State Political Parties: Each state has Democratic, Republican, and third-party organizations looking for volunteers.  

  •  In New Jersey there are two parties, Democratic and Republican. Third-party options vary by state. 

• State Legislative Campaign Committees: Many state legislators recruit volunteers to help with re-election efforts.  

  • Explore the rules governing volunteer contributions to political party committees, from personal expenses to in-kind donations and legal limits. 

• State-Level Advocacy Groups: Issue-based organizations often endorse candidates and coordinate campaign support. 

  •  Advocacy groups generally fall into several key categories, including environmental, civil rights, health and wellness, education, and animal and human rights. Many also focus on labor organizing, economic and consumer issues, and political advocacy. 

• Mobilize.us: Hub for finding volunteer opportunities with political campaigns, advocacy groups, and civic organizations. There are often local, state, and national volunteer opportunities available.  

   📣  Start, Join, and/or Support an Organization Dedicated to Political Parity 

• Whether by joining, supporting, or creating groups that focus on increasing political participation and representation, your efforts can help foster a more inclusive and representative political system. Connect with groups that resonate with your beliefs or support the interests of your community. If there isn’t an organization, think about creating the infrastructure yourself! 

• CAWP Women’s Political Power Map: Find resources, organizations, political action committees, and organizations and programs committed to supporting and encouraging women in politics that you can get involved in too! 

   📣  Become a Poll Worker  

• Support fair elections by becoming a poll worker! It’s a great way to engage in civic participation, assist voters, and gain firsthand experience in the democratic process. To learn more, contact your County Board of Elections.  

  📣   Write an Op-Ed About a Statewide Issue and Submit to a Statewide Publication 

• Writing an op-ed is a powerful way to use your voice and advocate for an issue that matters to you on the state level. You can share your perspective and opinion with the community, lawmakers, and leaders. The Op-Ed Project offers a how-to guide and publications that you can submit your op-ed to. 

  • Spot and Stop Misinformation: Make sure that you are not spreading misinformation and that you are using reliable sources! As misinformation is becoming more and more common, it is imperative that all citizens are educated on news literacy (the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information).  Check out the RDL’s Media Literacy page. You can learn more about news literacy via the News Literacy Project and check the facts via FactCheck.org. 

  📣   Start a Statewide Advocacy Campaign 

• The Action Network: Use platforms like the Action Network to mobilize support and build coalitions around an issue. 

  • The ACLU Protesters’ Rights Guide: If you choose to protest, the ACLU offers a guide on your rights as a protester. Always review this before you host or engage in a public demonstration. 

   📣  Coordinate a Letter-Writing or Call-In Campaign 

• Encourage others to contact elected officials and voice support or opposition to policies. Here are some tips to get started by the Action Network. 

   📣  Organize a Town Hall 

• YOU can organize a town hall! Decide what your objectives are, find some community members to help you create the event, and get started on taking action. To learn more about how to do so, GUIDE, Inc has a great planning guide accessible to all. 

  📣   Sign Up for Consistent / Multiple Volunteer Shifts at a State Organization 

• Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and build meaningful connections.  

• Jersey Cares: Jersey Cares is a way to find volunteer opportunities in New Jersey based on community needs. This is a great way to quickly connect with an organization that suits what you are looking for. 

  📣   Sign Up for a Long-Term Commitment at a Meaningful Organization 

• Looking to volunteer in Central Jersey? Here are three organizations to get you started. But no matter where you live there are plenty of opportunities to support your community!  

  • Capital Harmony Works is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering social change through music education and community engagement. By providing high-quality, inclusive music programs, they empower young people and build connections across diverse communities in the Trenton, NJ area. 

  • HomeFront is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness in Central New Jersey by providing housing, job training, childcare, and essential support services. Their holistic approach helps families regain stability and build a brighter future. 

  • Save Homeless Animals is a nonprofit rescue organization dedicated to saving, rehabilitating, and finding loving homes for abandoned and at-risk animals. They provide medical care, foster support, and adoption services to give every pet a second chance. 

  📣   Invite a State Representative or Leader to Speak to Your Community, Classroom, Club, or Youth Group 

• Inviting a representative to speak to your group is a great way to directly engage with public leaders and understand their experience and perspective on issues. It also enables your group to ask questions, voice concerns, and gain insight into what the decision-making process is like. Using Ballot Ready, you can quickly find who your representatives are and how to contact them.