Get Started Engaging in Your Local Democratic and Civic Community!
When threats to stewardship of the land, economic fairness, and democracy seem to be daily news headlines, it’s hard to know how you can make a difference. Engaging in your local democratic and civic community is a great place to start. The bedrock of a strong community is the ability for the people who live there to have a say in the future they want to see through their townships, counties, and other forms of local government.
Local Government Guides
County SWCD
SWCDs are local units of government that manage and direct natural resource management programs at the local level. Districts work in both urban and rural settings, with landowners and with other units of government, to carry out programs for the conservation, use, and development of soil, water, and related resources.
Township Board
Townships are governed by an elected board of three supervisors, a treasurer, and a clerk. The board can take charge of all town affairs not committed to other officers by law, even if it’s currently overseen by a higher office. The elected supervisors, treasurer and clerk meet once a month. They can make decisions on behalf of the town and have the responsibility to see that the town fulfills its duties to the state and to town residents.
County Board
The overall responsibility of a County Board is managing and administrating county operations as a governing authority. They are responsible for County property tax assessment, tax administration, elections, record keeping, transportation, planning and zoning, solid waste management, environment, parks and water management, law enforcement, courts and health and human services.
Local Election Guide
Learn who is running for each local office in your county.
Looking for information on who is running for what offices in your county? Access our local election guide below to search by county and find out what offices are up for election in 2026 for your immediate area.
Running for Local Office
Here are the immediate steps you can take:
Are you thinking about running for local office? Do you want to make a difference in your community by tackling the issues that face you and your neighbors every day?
Download our Local Candidate Election Guide below for a quick run-down of some of the how-tos and need-to-know for anyone considering running for local office.