Democracy Powered by Volunteers

I’m always amazed about how much gets done for our democracy by volunteers and this week being National Volunteer Week causes me to stop and reflect on how thankful I am for the all volunteers who power our democracy.

For everyone who is registering voters, who’s serving as poll workers, who’s supplying voters with information through voter guides, candidate debates and telephone voter hotlines, I’m thankful for your service to our democracy.

For all those who organize informational issue sessions, community dialogues, teach civics, participates in observing government in action, and educate citizens about those actions, I’m thankful for your service to our civic life.

For all those that take that inner civic passion and inspire a new activist to advocate for issues they care about at the local, state or national level, I’m thankful for your engagement and advocacy as it is the fuel that powers change.

In a time when our politics seem broken by overt efforts to roll back voting rights or purchase our policy makers, many of whom are embroiled in partisan fighting, I know there are many, many people who every day carry regular, important and good things forward in our democracy. While it’s unfortunate they rarely become part of the national narrative about our politics, they are in fact the real story and part of the backbone that powers our treasured democracy.

In the words of League of Women Voters founder, Carrie Chapman Catt, “Service to a just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction than any other venture of life.” I know this rings true for many, many volunteers who find civic service through the League, and this week I’m thankful to be in such a wonderful community of civic activists and all they do to power our democracy.