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Civic Participation Guide

This project provides information to help citizens participate in the political process in the U.S.

DID YOU KNOW?

Planning for U.S. elections starts in January—not November.

By the time voters cast ballots in November, many important decisions were made months earlier—often starting in January or February of even-numbered years.

Key decisions are often made by small groups of people who understand how the party process works.
Would you like to participate?

U.S. political parties are built from the ground up. The foundational level is the neighborhood, called the precinct. There are approximately 200,000 precincts in the United States.

Each major party assigns leadership roles starting at the precinct level, and progressing upward through counties, congressional districts, and the state party. Many precinct positions remain vacant because not enough people show up to fill them.
You can make a difference by showing up.

Why it Matters

  • A relatively small number of committed, experienced people often determine candidate selection and policy direction.
  • Small groups can have large influence—especially when participation is low.

What can you do?

  • Join a major political party.
  • Look up your precinct using your state's voter registration lookup tool.
  • Plan to attend your party's precinct caucus, primary, or local party meeting early in the year (~January–March) in even-numbered years (e.g. 2026). If your state or party uses a different method, confirm their participation procedures.
  • By January of even-numbered years, verify exact dates, locations, or submission methods with your Secretary of State and state party.

Who This Information Is For

  • Citizens wanting to participate in U.S. politics.
  • Members of any political party.

How to Use (It's as easy as 1-2-3!)