On a local community level, democracy manifests itself through participatory action where people demonstrate their
engagement in issues that matter to their community. People contribute to democracy in many ways, not limited to casting a ballot. Democracy is aided through open communication where participants have the opportunity to explore different views and are able to gather information to make informed decisions.

In representative democratic systems, officials are elected by their constituents. As a member of the community or local group, there are several ways that you can aid the democratic process including:

1. Get informed
   Get to know who your local candidates are and learn about local issues so you can decide who will best represent you and your values.
2. Talk with your friends, family and neighbors
   Share your interests and concerns with your peers, listen, ask questions, and in doing so, create a space for open discussion.
3. Cast your vote
   Check whether you qualify to vote, register if necessary, and on election day make sure you take part in the electoral process by casting your vote. In some places, you may be asked to vote on issues as well as candidates (several states have initiative and referendum processes that can put measures on the ballot). Click here for information about voting in the upcoming US Presidential election.
4. Make your voice heard
   Connect with your elected officials. If you're uncertain about your candidate's platform, contact them with your questions. As potential representatives, it's just as important for them to know what issues are important to the community.
5. Get active
   Participate in citizen-led committees and task forces. Read an interview with David MacLeod of Sustainable Bellingham about the recent formation of the Bellingham/Whatcom County Task Force and Resolution. See also online resources featured in the newsletter for more info about taking action.
6. Run for office
   If you've been an active member of the community, it may be worth considering running a campaign and to take on a leadership role as an elected official. Read Deborah Lindsay's recent blog post about what led her to decide to run for Pacific Grove City Council in California.

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With upcoming civic and federal elections, many groups are stepping up to ensure that the issues that matter to them come to the forefront of discussions.

• In British Columbia, Vancouver Peak Oil organized an event with the mayoral candidates specifically to discuss strategies to address peak oil in light of the upcoming municipal elections.
• In Berkeley, California, members of Bay Localize participated in a meeting with the Berkeley Energy Commission:
  "The last couple of weeks have seen an incredible outpouring of support for Community Choice Energy! In late September, 25 people showed up to the Berkeley Energy Commission meeting calling for greater community control over our local renewable energy mix. As a result, the Berkeley Energy Commission formed a subcommittee to explore how they could move Community Choice forward (read report on the meeting)."
• In Ontario, Post-Carbon London sponsored an 'All Candidates Meeting on Environment & Climate Change' to address the growing concern and discuss policies to tackle the coming challenges.
• In Nevada City, California, Alliance for a Post-Petroleum Local Economy
  will be working with other local organizations to recruit, organize, and lead an Energy Solutions Task Force.

Photo credit: makelessnoise