Too few Minot voters are turning out for elections, and that is a concern with a mayoral election on the horizon, according to Minot residents David Gipson, Jesse Watson and Zachary Sherwood.

The trio hopes to stir more residents to action through their efforts to raise awareness of progress-oriented groups that can help citizens become better informed and more engaged. They have been meeting with community leaders and members to spread the word.

“We just encourage people to seek some education and participate in local politics, where you actually have a chance to make a difference, and where you can see those differences made much more immediately,” Sherwood said.

The intent also is to bring more representation to people who tend to be marginalized, whether due to disability, lower incomes, lack of property ownership or other factors, Gipson said.

“We want everyone to be heard, especially the ones who feel they don’t have a voice,” he said.

Watson added local leaders can’t help address problems if they don’t know what the problems are.

“It’s really easy to look at the national situation and think, ‘Well, what I do doesn’t matter,'” Watson said. “I think it does matter. Even if it’s just joining a group. … These groups can make small, nonpartisan changes locally that add up to a big change to Minot overall.”

Among places they urge people to get involved are nonpartisan, nonprofit groups such as the Human Rights Coalition, Plum Valley League of Women Voters and Minot Women’s Network. Although it is a partisan organization, the Souris Valley Democratic-NPL Party has worked on human rights issues and is a place people can tap into if they have that interest, Watson said.

The Minot chapter of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, Plum Valley LWV, Women’s Network and the Dem-NPL post information about their meetings and events online. In addition, a coffee group meets Saturdays at 11 a.m. at Broadway Bean & Bagel that is open to everyone, regardless of affiliation with any organization.

“Tapping into these groups also will keep people informed,” Sherwood said. “We do have opportunities with these candidates, with these city officials, to meet and hear information from them directly, and we can learn how we as citizens can apply that information to help our community.”

“Really, what we’re doing here is just trying to get as many people involved as we can,” Gipson said. Getting involved also means educating oneself because even he has had his perspective changed once he better understood why the city is doing what it does.

Currently, one of the key focuses of the various organizations is education around the upcoming mayoral election. Responses to candidate questionnaires are being made available to the community through the Plum Valley website, along with information about how to vote absentee if unable to vote Aug. 5.

Ultimately, increased citizen involvement can lead to more interest in running for office, Sherwood and Watson said.

“In the short term, we just want more people to vote,” Watson said. “We probably all have our own personal thoughts on things, but overall, it seems like it will help everyone if we just get more people to vote.”

“We are trying to make positive change in the community,” Gipson added. “Making the community better for everyone, not any particular side. It’s for everybody. Making a city that we’re proud to live in.”