MODERNIZING PARTICIPATION FORMATS
Reaching Residents on Their Terms
Residents want engagement options that fit their busy lives and schedules, from virtual meeting attendance to online comments and self-service portals. Our data shows which formats resonate and where opportunities exist to reach more people.
59% of residents say email is their preferred way to hear from government.
Residents’ top 3 engagement preferences: email, online forms, and private in-person conversations.
WHY DIGITAL PARTICIPATION MATTERS
You can’t rely solely on notices or word-of-mouth. Modern engagement requires flexible, accessible tools to meet residents where they are, ensuring decisions reflect the voices of more than just a vocal few.
It shouldn’t just be the high-profile projects that get this attention. Land use and rezoning cases provide a clear example, where turnout is often low and dominated by a vocal few. As one planner described, “We only hear from people who are mad.”
In fact, data from this year’s report shows that 72% of residents say proximity drives their attention to local issues. Offering digital options like online portals, comments, and virtual meetings will help agencies reach a broader, more representative audience.
What digital participation means for you
Modernize participation formats to reach residents on their terms. Combine virtual meetings, online comments, and self-service portals to capture perspectives from those who aren’t attending in person. These approaches ensure more voices are heard without overburdening already stretched staff.
How PublicInput equips agencies
PublicInput provides flexible tools to modernize participation formats with virtual meetings, online comments, and self-service portals. Agencies can meet residents on their terms — whether they have busy schedules, mobility constraints, or simply prefer online participation — helping ensure more voices are heard without overwhelming staff.
Using a scalable online portal, agencies can dramatically increase engagement, capturing a wider, more representative range of voices.
HOW CHARLESTON COUNTY IS MODERNIZING REZONING ENGAGEMENT
Rezoning can feel complex and intimidating, but Charleston County turned it into an opportunity for inclusion and trust-building. By centralizing feedback from online portals, voicemails, text surveys, emails, and QR-code mailers, the County captured diverse voices and ensured residents could engage on their terms.
PublicInput’s streamlined tools reduced staff burden, provided real-time insights, and highlighted who was participating and where, making feedback actionable. The result: broader representation, faster analysis, and stronger community trust—proving that modern, multi-channel engagement can transform both decisions and relationships.
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.