MAKING SENSE OF SILENCE
Demonstrating Reach Builds Confidence
Low turnout rarely signals resistance. Most nonparticipants simply feel an issue doesn’t affect them personally or that plans “look fine” as presented. Demonstrating who you reached is just as important as tracking who responded—it gives leaders confidence to move forward, even when participation is limited.
Most residents who reported a lack of engagement (60%) aren’t opposed — they simply feel issues don’t affect them personally.
WHY TRACKING REACH MATTERS
Measuring engagement success solely by response rates can create a false impression that silence equals opposition. By tracking and reporting your actual reach—showing exactly who received the message and had the opportunity to weigh in—you provide decision-makers with context and confidence to act responsibly.
How PublicInput helps
Our transparent reporting tools track awareness and participation side by side, allowing you to demonstrate both voices heard and tacit approval. Quiet doesn’t mean disengagement—showing your reach ensures leaders know the community was informed and considered.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY:
ENGAGING RURAL & URBAN COMMUNITITES
Even when participation is limited, knowing who you reached matters. Hillsborough County leveraged PublicInput to conduct an inclusive, multilingual, mixed-mode engagement effort spanning urban and rural communities. In just two weeks, the County collected over 17,000 survey submissions and 30,000 comments, giving decision-makers confidence that every perspective had an opportunity to be heard.
With dynamic reporting, equity mapping, and CRM tools, Hillsborough County was able to analyze trends, respond to questions, and build a foundation for ongoing outreach—demonstrating that showing your reach is just as important as hearing responses.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2025 U.S. National Look at How Residents Connect with Local Government
Residents want to participate directly — proxies don’t cut it anymore.
Demonstrating reach builds confidence among residents.
Learn which formats resonate and where opportunities exist to reach more people.
CBOs work best as outreach partners, not substitutes for direct public participation.
Residents want transparency and to know their input shapes real decisions.
By modernizing formats, closing awareness gaps, and building trust local governments can move beyond the “angry few” and engage the full community.