I used to have a three-by-five note card pinned above my computer at the office (these were prepandemic days). It had two words scrawled on it: Be kind. You wouldn’t think anyone would need to be reminded of a life lesson that one’s parents should’ve imparted to their children in toddlerhood, but as those who know me will likely confirm, I can be quick to judge and impatient with what I view as incompetence. Not exactly virtuous character traits. Hence the note card, which I used as a daily nudge to be a better person.

In this month’s “How To Get Involved in Local Politics During This Election—and All Year Round,” features editor Spencer Campbell has penned a very long note card equivalent that will hit newsstands roughly a week before Americans head to the polls for a potentially historic and undeniably contentious election. Campbell’s guide is less about minding your manners and more about how Coloradans can fully exercise their rights, help others feel part of this thing we call democracy, and better understand the processes for making change in a world where individuals often feel like they have little agency or ability to make an impact.

5280 November 2024
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“Some of the information in this story can be put to good use during this election,” Campbell says. “But much of it is about how to be more civically engaged in between filling out those mail-in ballots.”

That actionable material is critical to creating not only a more politically savvy electorate, but also, possibly, a more civil discourse. “Engagement leads to dialogue and, if you’re doing it with an open mind, to empathy,” Campbell says. “That’s what creates change.”  I sincerely hope that no matter what side of the aisle you stand on, you agree that being kind to one another, despite deep political differences in a post-truth era, is something worth remembering. Also worth remembering? Election Day is November 5. Please vote.

This article was originally published in 5280 November 2024.
Lindsey B. King
Lindsey B. King
Lindsey B. King was the magazine’s editor from 2021 to 2024. She is currently a Denver-based writer and editor.