What We’re Learning from the 2025 Survey Findings
Every year, PublicInput surveys hundreds of residents across the country to understand how people experience and expect public engagement.
From voting habits and meeting preferences, to accessibility and trust in government, this national snapshot reveals how communities want to be heard, and how agencies can rise to meet those expectations.
The 2025 results are in, and while we’re still finalizing the 2025 State of Community Engagement Report, we wanted to share a sneak peek of what we’re seeing.
RESIDENTS EXPECT TRANSPARENCY
An overwhelming 94% agree that local governments should report back on how community input was used in decision-making.
PARTICIPATION IS GOING DIGITAL
Residents’ top 3 engagement preferences: email, online forms, and private in-person conversations.
ACCESS MEANS MORE THAN LOGISTICS
Beyond physical or language accessibility, some residents raised concerns about feeling safe to share their input without fear of retaliation or interference.
These findings show the complexity of resident experience and the expectations they have of governments to not only offer digital access, but also to communicate clearly, close the loop, and build trust through inclusive engagement.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll release the full report and dive deeper into five major insights — plus a bonus blog series exploring trends that didn’t make the final cut but deserve attention.
Stay tuned and get ready to see how your community stacks up against national benchmarks.
