For many years, we got used to the fact that about 30 percent of people do not vote. Yet, in an era of rising authoritarianism, 30 percent of the vote can be the threshold needed to grab power. Sadly, parties with non-democratic tendencies seem to better understand that to get into office, the votes of those who have historically not voted are key. I’m don’t mean youth, but those deeply discontented with the system and marginalised by the political mainstream. Non-democratic parties are not targeting these kinds of non-voters with national campaigns and big political speeches, but rather on the local level, especially through the use of community engagement.
Luckily, a quiet revolution is underway in democratic parties and some are shifting strategies in order to better engage the local politically disenchanted communities.
As the concept of community engagement—pioneered by renowned Harvard Professor Marshall Ganz—gains traction, it is becoming evident that connecting with local communities is the most effective strategy for mobilising non-voters.
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