This article was featured in our ELECTricity newsletter in June 2023. Sign up to receive more success stories from election offices across the country.

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Election officials do so much to protect our right to vote year round. And since Independence Day is all about honoring our freedoms, it’s another perfect opportunity to celebrate our right to vote. As we head into the holiday weekend, we’re sharing 11 ways that you can celebrate July 4th in your jurisdiction. Whether you decide to register new voters, recruit poll workers, give back to your community, or start a new program, we hope this list provides you with some patriotic inspiration. As always, feel free to take the ideas you like, and leave the rest.

 1. Celebrate and Thank Your Fellow Election Officials and Poll Workers
On Independence Day, we commemorate the Declaration of Independence, which asserts that governments “deriv[e] their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Election officials and poll workers make that possible by working tirelessly to administer smooth and secure elections. On July 4th, don’t forget to thank those that make democracy possible—and maybe take a note from former Santa Cruz County, California Clerk and send them a cute dog photo.

 2. Attend a Parade or Community Event
What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than participating in your local parade or community event? It’s a great opportunity to bond with your election staff outside of the office. And voters will appreciate seeing the faces of their friendly election officials out in the community. While it’s nice for your election office to have a float or a booth, there are plenty of more informal ways to get involved. You might consider sending around a clipboard at the event to register attendees. If your local event has a main stage, you could also ask the event organizers if you can hop on the microphone to make a quick announcement reminding attendees to register to vote, or update their voter registration.

 3. Encourage the Public to Register to Vote
On a day when we celebrate our freedom and rights, it’s the perfect time to remind the public to exercise their right to vote by registering, or making sure their registration is up to date. A simple social media post can go a long way. We love this example from Marin County, California, and this post from the Virginia Department of Elections complete with an eye-catching red, white and blue graphic.

 4. Celebrate New Americans
Independence Day is all about celebrating being an American, so why not celebrate those who just recently became American citizens? In past years, the King County, Washington elections team has attended naturalization ceremonies taking place on July 4th to celebrate new Americans, and help them register to vote.

 5. Say “Happy Birthday” to Citizens Turning 18 on July 4th
Many states allow citizens to pre-register to vote as long as they will turn 18 before an upcoming election. Election officials can send a special greeting to those who turn 18 on July 4th—not only celebrating their birthdays, but also America’s birthday. In years past in Hernando County, Florida, election officials kicked off the holiday by mailing a “Happy birthday” message with a voter information card to those new voters.

 6. Remind Voters to Update their “John Hancock”
This clever post from Clay County, Florida seamlessly ties in some 4th of July history with a friendly reminder for voters. The message is simple and effective: “The Elections Office uses your signature to verify your identity on Vote by Mail ballots. Make sure your ‘John Hancock’ is updated with our office ahead of the 2020 Primary.”

 7. Share Important Democracy Deadlines
Sometimes the July 4th holiday conveniently falls just before important deadlines. Your election office can use the holiday as a way to remind constituents about those deadlines. For example, in Clinton County Ohio, election officials suggested that candidates use the July 4th festivities and county fair to collect signatures for their petitions for local government offices.

 8. Recruit Poll Workers
On a day when voters are feeling especially patriotic, it’s a wonderful opportunity to ask them to serve as poll workers for upcoming elections. Whether you recruit poll workers at a parade, BBQ, other community events, or post on social media like Wake County, North Carolina, you can’t go wrong.

 9. Give Back to the Community
On July 4th, consider giving back to the community alongside your election staff. It could be a meaningful way to celebrate those that work to protect Americans’ freedoms. Earlier this year in Brevard County, Florida, election officials volunteered at a BBQ honoring first responders. You could check to see if similar events are happening in your community around Independence Day.

 10. Set up a Vote In Honor of a Vet Program
Throughout the country, there are both state and local-level “Vote In Honor of a Vet” programs, where voters can dedicate their vote to a veteran who has served our country to ensure our freedom and democracy, and thus protect our right to vote. In states like Iowa, Nevada, and Tennessee, voters can submit a tribute to a veteran that’s shared online. Voters may also receive a commemorative pin or button to wear on Election Day.

If you’re considering setting up a similar program in your election office, what better time to kick it off than on Independence Day?

 11. Advocate for Federal Election Funding
As we celebrate America’s Independence, we should also be celebrating those that help Americans exercise one of their most fundamental rights—the right to vote. That’s why through the Election Infrastructure Initiative, we’re calling on Congress to invest $400 Million this year to bolster our election infrastructure and support election officials with the resources they need to run modern, secure elections. We invite you to take action and commit to writing a letter to your Senator urging them to invest in our election infrastructure.