The first step to getting politically active is to align views with the most suitable party. The two main parties are the Democrat and Republican parties, however there are some minor third parties to research too.

After the party alignment is figured out, read into some news about local and national politics, see how things are run throughout the state and country. Take into account some news outlets can be biased for one party or the other.

Once well versed in many of the political issues being discussed, take action.

Start small by emailing a local official such as the mayor or a councilman and see how they feel about public concerns. The responses are quick since the office is small.

“I believe it is very important to get involved because you can have a voice on what is happening in your city, state and country,” Mayor of O’Fallon Bill Hennessy said.

Involvement can come from school too. Join clubs such as Youth and Government to get a feel of the political process and deepen understanding of government. Being part of the action from these clubs often creates a sense of purpose in the attendees to implement themselves in the system.

“By going through the processes myself, I am a little more appreciative of what our civil servants do,” junior Bennett Nelson said.

After that, join a campaign as a volunteer. Work around people with similar views to shape and lead the public for upcoming elections. Be able to speak to people with opposing views, as many of the jobs on a campaign include door-to-door marketing.

Once old enough, branch out and run for office, starting locally to gain knowledge and experience to help in more popular elections such as running for governor or the presidency.

“I went door to door and spoke to people to hear what concerns they have and for them to get to know me,” Hennessy said.

If running for office is not an option, stay informed and vote. Know the issues and find facts from reliable sources. Voting is one of the most powerful things the public can do, after all it is civic duty.