In most localities, engagement, especially with young people, is ad hoc. Elected officials may reach out to young people in the months leading up to an election, but not at other times. Governors, state legislators, and local leaders should regularly meet with, engage, and listen to young people.

Depending on where a person lives, their economic situation, or accessibility issues, some individuals can more easily become involved in civic engagement activities. Elected leaders at all levels must intentionally seek out opportunities to make civic engagement more equitable. It is especially important to reach out to communities that may not be used to engaging on civic issues.

Meet people where they are, whether that means schools, workplaces, or community centers on the weekend. Further, there should be a special effort to create a culture that welcomes and supports underrepresented individuals and communities, including young people.

Each state has a Service Commission that works with civic programs such as AmeriCorps, CityYear, and Teach for America. While some funding comes from the federal government, state legislators have the opportunity to strengthen, expand, and further fund these types of programs.

As access to information becomes easier, so does access to misinformation. And misinformation, combined with outright lies from unscrupulous actors, can have drastic consequences. Digital literacy is critical to help ensure the next generation can separate truth from lies online.

According to CIRCLE, only nine percent of poll workers are under the age of 25, and only three percent are under age 18 (all but six states allow individuals under the age of 18 to work as poll workers). Local elected officials should seek out partnerships with youth organizations – including high schools and colleges – to recruit poll workers.

Businesses and civic organizations have ample opportunities to educate residents about elections and the election process. Businesses can post important election information in break rooms so employees know when, where, and how to vote. Where it is permissible by law, businesses can provide voter registration forms to all customers who enter their store.

While public trust in the media and politicians is relatively low, businesses are still a trusted source, according to the Leadership Now Project. According to their survey, 54 percent of Americans trust businesses, compared to only 42 percent who trust the government and 45 percent who trust the media. Business leaders have the authority and motive to speak out in favor of a healthy, robust democracy.

In order to foster strong communities, business leaders should partner with local, state, or national nonprofits for community service days and/or opportunities for civic engagement. Community service days can range from park or river clean-ups to helping out at a local community food bank. Civic engagement could include volunteering the business location as host for a town hall with local and/or state officials.

Business leaders should partner with local election officials to provide incentives for poll workers. The Leadership Now Project recommends giving workers paid time off to work at the polls as well as to vote.

Volunteers are the backbone of many elections. And faith communities often have a desire to give back to their communities. Faith leaders can reach out to election officials about ways that members can become involved in election volunteering opportunities.

Poll observers may have a negative experience if they are not aware of their rights and responsibilities. Local election officials can and should partner with like minded groups to educate observers about their role. Such relationships are beneficial to the election process, and potentially remove obstacles to conducting elections.

One of the simplest ways to encourage voting among employees is to host a voter registration drive at a business. This could include nonpartisan resources in company newsletters as well as partnering with a nonpartisan group to visit a business location for a voter registration drive.