Why Community Building Matters

Young people don’t skip elections because they don’t care—they skip because they often feel disconnected. Over the last few decades, everyday forms of community life have faded: neighborhood groups meet less often, volunteering has declined, friendship networks have thinned, and fewer people feel a strong sense of belonging or trust in local institutions. When those social ties weaken, so does participation in civic life.

Research consistently shows that people are far more likely to vote when they feel part of a community where participation is normal, shared, and supported. Stronger relationships, shared purpose, local leadership, and a sense of “we’re in this together” all make voting more meaningful and more likely.

That’s why TVP invests in community-based engagement alongside research. Our small-group gatherings, conversation templates, local facilitator models, and shared learning events are designed to rebuild:

• trust

• belonging

• social norms around voting

• the sense that “people like me show up”

Information can help someone understand how to vote—but community gives them a reason to want to vote.

By pairing evidence-based tools with people-centered connection, TVP strengthens both the motivation and the confidence young Texans need to participate in every election.