Civic Engagement Initiatives

Civic Engagement Initiatives

Civic education gives you the knowledge to understand how you and your government can work together. Civic engagement puts that knowledge into action — by using your voice to shape the issues, decisions, and policies that affect your life and your community.

Secretary Thomas is committed to expanding both across Connecticut, because she has seen firsthand how powerful engaged residents can be. When people understand how government works and how to participate, they don’t just observe change. They help create it. Every voice, every story, and every life experience brings value to the decisions that shape our state.

That is why the Office of the Secretary of the State works to remove barriers to participation and make government easier to navigate. Whether you want to be an informed voter, help a cause, start a business, serve on a local board, or run for office, you deserve clear, accessible information to take that next step with confidence.

Your voice matters. Your story matters. Your participation matters. When more people are engaged, communities grow stronger and policies work better for everyone.

Below are links to help you learn, participate, and make your impact.

Make a Voting Plan

• Register to Vote
• Find Your Polling Place, Ways to Vote, Upcoming Elections, Voter Registration Deadlines, Ballot Drop Box Locations, and more
• Absentee Ballot Information
• Guide to Voter Rights

• Guidance for Voters of All Abilities

• Military and Overseas Citizen Voting Guidelines

Connect with State Government

• Connecticut General Assembly
• Find Your Representatives
• General Assembly Citizen’s Guide
• Connecticut Network

Get Even More Involved

• Be A Poll Worker
• Run for Office
• Learn about Major and Minor Political Parties in Connecticut
• Serve on a Board, Council, or Commission
  The State of Connecticut offers many opportunities to serve through appointments to boards, councils, and commissions. These roles are vital to shaping inclusive and effective public policy.
  
  If you're interested in a state-level appointment, a good first step is to contact your State Representative or State Senator. They can help you navigate the process and connect you with relevant opportunities. 
  
  You can also pitch your interest directly to the appointing authority. To find out more information on how to submit an application to the governor’s office, use the State Department of Administrative Services online form.
  
  Many towns also have local boards and commissions that residents can serve on. Contact your town hall or visit your town’s website to learn more about how you can serve locally and make a difference in your own community.

Civics in the Community

• The Power of Civics
  Do you want to be an informed and engaged resident of Connecticut, but don’t know how? Explore our free, interactive online program and start your civics journey today!
  
• Civics 101: Handouts, Videos, and Graphics to Share
  Do you need to provide the facts about voting to your community? Download our handouts, videos, and social media graphics, available in both English and Spanish!
  
• Civically Engaged Organization (CEO)
  Are you committed to promoting civic education? Join the hundreds of businesses, non-profits, religious entities, and towns that have pledged to help their communities be better informed and more engaged by becoming CEOs.   
  
• Engage Local: Organizational Charts for All CT Towns (coming soon!)
  Does your town have a Mayor or First Selectman? A Town Manager? A City Council or Board of Aldermen? In Connecticut, town government differs from one town to the next. We've created organizational charts for all 169 towns in Connecticut. To get a digital copy of your town’s chart, email Civics101@CT.gov.  
  
• Connecticut Civic Health Index
  Read about the state of Connecticut civic health in reports from 2016 and 2011.  

Civics for Young People

It’s never too early to make your voice heard in your community – even if you can’t vote yet! The Secretary of the State’s Office offers programs that engage young people in the democratic process from elementary school through college and beyond.

• VOICE CT 
  VOICE CT (Voicing Our Ideas for Civic Engagement in Connecticut) is a youth civic engagement program that invites Connecticut high schoolers to identify barriers to civic participation and launch actionable solutions in their own communities.
  
• Internship Opportunities
  Are you a college or graduate student looking to gain experience working in state government and encouraging participation in the democratic process? We offer internships every term in areas like Communications, Elections, Outreach and Engagement, and more.
  
• Red, White, and Blue Schools
  In partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Connecticut Democracy Center in residence at Connecticut’s Old State House, Red, White & Blue Schools recognizes K-12 public and private schools that are going above and beyond in their delivery of civic education. Submit your school’s civic engagement project today!
  
• Connecticut’s Kid Governor®
  Connecticut’s Kid Governor® empowers 5th graders to change the world by immersing students in a real election for their state’s Kid Governor, a fellow 5th grader who will represent them during a one-year term of active leadership.
  
• Next Gen Elections
  In 2024 and 2025, the Next Gen Elections program engaged college students as poll workers at the Moderator level throughout the state. Students had the opportunity to get involved in our democracy, make a difference in their community, and get paid in the process.