What happens after elections?

Once the elections are over it can be tempting to feel like the work is done. But voter engagement is something that, as Tiny Tim says in The Muppet Christmas Carol, we must keep the spirit in our hearts all year long (pretty sure he was talking about politics there). There are many ways to make sure the people who represent you in St. Paul or Washington continue to hear your voice.

Call your representatives

Some websites, like callyourrep.co, makes it easy to find contact information for the representatives who speak for you in Washington. The people who represent you at a local level can be found on websites like www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts. Remember that this mode of contact isn’t just in place for when a politician upsets you – it’s also a great way to tell them you want to see more of what they’re doing, or that you want to see them focus on something that hasn’t come up yet in their work.

Magnify the voices of peers

Look for (or start!) a group on campus that works on an issue that’s important to you. Taking action with others is a great way to amplify your shared values and explore the differences that make our communities strong. Your group might be clearly political, like a campus republicans or democrats group, or it might be built around identity like an LGBTQ or veterans group. Use your voices together to make sure your politicians hear you!

Get involved with LeadMN

Our staff and cabinet are here to support the voices of Minnesota’s community college students. One of the ways we do this is to advocate for legislation based on the concerns raised by student bodies, such as college affordability, food insecurity and transfer pathways. As the next legislative season quickly approaches, we’ll be creating opportunities for political action around those three issues, and we want to support any initiatives you’re leading on your campus! To get involved or ask for help with your work, email LeadMN Director of Outreach Molly Budke at mbudke@leadmn.org.