Political Participation in the United States

Political participation refers to a voluntary action taken by a private citizen or group of citizens to influence the outcome of a political issue, such as supporting a political candidate or proposed law. The actions of elected officials or government employees, who have a professional obligation to engage with public policy, do not constitute political participation. Running for office, however, can be considered an act of political participation. People can engage with politics individually or with an organization, such as a political party, community group, or activist collective.

In the liberal democracy of the United States, citizens can vote in local, state, and federal elections as a means of expressing themselves politically. Voter turnout, which refers to the percentage of...