Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
WASHINGTON – Civic health is a reflection of a community’s civic participation. It’s measured by number of registered voters, voter turnout and participation in local government.
To encourage civic participation, one southern Indiana county recently hosted a workshop to guide citizens on the process of seeking a public office.
Daviess County’s Purdue Extension office, Daviess County Board of Elections and Daviess County Clerk’s office partnered to offer the program, which took place Jan. 5 at the county courthouse.
County Clerk Lauren Milton said running for office can be an intimidating experience.
“Our goal is to try to make that process as easy as possible for everyone. We tend to get the same questions every filing period and the Running for Office program discusses those questions, so they have a better understanding of what they need to do and why,” Milton said. “After we did the program, the office received a lot of feedback, even from current elected officials, that they learned so much and appreciated us taking the time to present them with so much information.”
The workshop followed a program developed by Purdue Extension and covered the following topics:
- Knowledge of the process for running for local office
- Learn about elected positions on the upcoming ballot, the roles and qualifications of those positions
- Meet local party officials, elected officials and community leaders
- Learn about resources available for those seeking to serve in local government
- Learn about ethical considerations that apply to candidates and elected officials·
The workshop also featured a panel of elected officials and party chairs, who spoke about their experiences.
“We were very surprised by the turnout,” Milton said. “Even though a lot of them may never decide to run for office themselves, it is very beneficial for the community as a whole to understand how the election process works.”
During this election cycle, Indiana cities, counties and towns will elect representatives to an array of positions, from township trustees and county officials to school boards. This representation allows local citizens to have a voice in government decisions.
Cindy Barber, Community Development Educator for Purdue Extension – Daviess County, said getting more citizens familiar with the process of running for office is good for overall civic participation.
“In the 2018 general election, 60% of county elections (excluding judges) in Indiana were uncontested,” Barber said, citing the 2018 Indiana Voters Portal. “A lack of political participation can impact community well-being.”
When elections aren’t competitive, voters are less likely to be engaged and go to the polls to vote.
“From a civic engagement standpoint, being informed, especially when it comes to the leaders we elect for public offices, is vital to the well-being of our communities,” Barber said.
The window for declaring a candidacy for public office in 2026 opened Jan. 7. The filing window closes Feb. 6.