Civic Engagement in Arizona’s Communities:

Lessons from the Gallup Arizona Poll

Arizona League of Cities and Towns

August 31, 2011

1

2

Consensus: Arizonans agree on more than they disagree.

With moderate differences,

consensus crossed regions:

• Urban Corridor

• Small Cities

• Rural Areas

And demographics:

• Gender

• Age

• Education

• Income

• Ethnicity

3

HIGH ATTACHMENT TO PLACE/LOW SENSE OF CONNECTION TO ONE ANOTHER• 36% rate their passion and loyalty to place a “5”.• Only 12% of Arizonans strongly believe the people in their

community care about one another.

HIGH CONSENSUS ON ISSUES/DISSATISFACTION WITH ELECTED LEADERS• Only 10% of Arizonans believe their elected officials were doing

a good job. (2009)• Only 10% believe their elected leaders represent their interests.

4

Overview: Two Disconnects

A Citizens’ Agenda forArizona’s Second Century

CARING FOR THE ECONOMY1. Create quality jobs for all Arizonans.2. Prepare Arizonans of all ages for the 21st century workforce.

CARING FOR PEOPLE3. Make Arizona “the place to be” for talented young people.4. Provide health insurance for all, with payment assistance for those who need it.

CARING FOR COMMUNITIES5. Protect Arizona’s natural environment, water supplies and open spaces.6. Build a modern, effective transportation system and infrastructure.7. Empower citizens and increase civic involvement.8. Foster citizen well-being and sense of connection to one another.

5

6

Goal 7 Scorecard: Empower citizens and increase civic involvement.

KEY INDICATORS: 1.Vote

Voter registration, Voter turnout2.Express Political Views

Participate in non-voting political activities: ─ Contact an elected official.─ Attend public meetings.─ Buy or boycott products.─ Take part in political demonstrations.─ Give time or money to candidate, party. 3.Stay Informed4.Discuss Politics Frequently

7

Goal 8 Scorecard: Foster citizen well-being and sense of connection to one another.

KEY INDICATORS:

1.Connecting with Family, Friends and NeighborsEat dinner with family/household almost daily. Take with family and friends via email, InternetExchange favors with neighbors weekly.

2.Participating in Groups and OrganizationsBelong to one or more groups that meet monthly. Serve as officer or committee member.

3.Community ServiceVolunteered within last 12 months. Attended meeting about community issue.

Worked with neighbors to fix something.3.Giving to Charity

Made contribution of $25 or more.

8

Citizen Engagement:How Engaged are Arizonans?

VOTE• Arizona ranks 40th in the nation for voter registration with 68.9%

of eligible citizens.• Arizona ranks 43rd for voter turnout with 59.8% of eligible

citizens.

FOLLOW THE NEWS AND STAY INFORMED• 37% of Arizonans say they do not follow the news or discuss the news

regularly.

9Copyright © 2009 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: What would it take to move Arizona into the Top 10?

Goal 7: Key Indicators Arizona Current Rank

Voter Registration 68.9% 40th

Voter Turnout 59.8% 43rd

Voter Turnout (18 – 29-year olds) 47.0% 39th

Discuss Politics Frequently 39.1% 32nd

Non-voting Political Activism 24.8% 36th

Top 10 Goal

+ 7.4%

+ 8.6%

+ 10.0%

+ 4.2%

+ 11.1%

NATIONAL RANKINGS: What would it take to move Arizona into the Top 10?

Goal 8: Key IndicatorsArizona Current Rank

Eat dinner with family almost daily. 86.9% 45th

Exchange favors with neighbors 13.5% 48th

Belong to one or more groups 34.3% 33rd

Volunteered within last year 24.8% 36th

Attended community meeting 8.9% 41st

Made contribution of $25 or more 48.2% 38th

Top 10 Goal

+ 4.3%

+ 5.7%

+ 7.8%

+ 8.4%

+ 7.3%

+12.0%

Arizona Civic Health Index

National Arizona Greater Phoenix Tucson

Voter Registration 71.0% 68.9% 68.0% 76.3%Voter Turnout 63.6% 59.8% 60.4% 64.5%

Discuss Politics Frequently 39.3% 39.1% 39.4% 44.3%Participate in non-voting political activities 26.3% 24.8% 19.2% 25.9%

12

Engagement In the Urban Areas

Arizona Civic Health Index

National Arizona Greater Phoenix Tucson Eat dinner with family almost every day 89.1% 86.9% 84.5% 95.1%Talk with family/friends via Internet frequently 53.6% 51.8% 52.1% 48.2% Talk with neighbors a few X/week or more 45.8% 39.9% 38.4% 41.3% Exchange favors with neighbors a few X/week 16.0% 13.5% 12.6% 18.8%

Attended a group meeting 21.5% 21.0% 18.8% 25.0% Belong to group that meets regularly 35.1% 34.3% 31.9% 37.6% Serve as officer or committee member 10.1% 10.5% 8.4% 13.4%

13

Connectedness in the Urban Areas

14

The Arizona We Want: Civic RenewalCivic

Health Scorecard

KEY INDICATORSGoal 7: Actions that Influence Government1.Vote

- Registration, Turnout2.Express Political Views

- Contact public official- Attend public meeting- Buy or boycott products- Take part in march, demonstration- Give time or money to candidate, party

3.Stay informed- Read newspaper- Read newsmagazine- Watch news (TV, internet)- Listen to news on radio- Get news from blogs, chat rooms

4.Discuss Politics Frequently

Goal 8: Actions that Build Community1.Connect with Family, Friends and Neighbors

- Eat dinner with family almost daily- Talk with family and friends via email- Talk with neighbors frequently- Exchange favors with neighbors

2.Participate in Groups and Organizations- Serve as officer or committee member- Work with neighbors to fix problem

3. Volunteering and Giving to Charity

Strategy 1:

Community-based Solutions

Strategy 2:

Employer-basedCitizenship

Strategy 3:

Civic Leadership

Strategy 4:

Civic Education

Objective: The Center will create and manage a statewide RFP process that encourages citizens and leaders to jointly identify one or more strategies developed in the TAWW process, (education, job creation, environment), set measurable goals, and implement a plan that achieves a successful result.

Achieving the goal will require activities that increase civic engagement (see indicators).

Objective: The Center will work individually with 3-5 large Arizona employers to demonstrate how companies can make active citizenship an important and measurable part of their culture.

Objective: The Center will identify a statewide partner and actively support their efforts to recruit, train and support effective leaders who are committed to seeking elective office in Arizona at all levels of government

Objective: The Center will identify a statewide partner and actively support their efforts to reinstate civic education into the public policies, culture and civic traditions of Arizona.

www.TheArizonaWeWant.org

15