Connecting with friends and family who don't vote requires thoughtful approaches to maintain respect and open communication. Here are some strategies to help foster a connection:

1. Start with Empathy

• Show Genuine Interest: Ask about their life, beliefs, and experiences to understand where they’re coming from. Avoid immediately jumping to political talk.
• Avoid Judgment: Create a safe space by acknowledging that voting can feel complicated or frustrating. Respect their feelings even if they differ from yours.

2. Relate Voting to Personal Interests

• Link Issues to What Matters: Find out what issues they care about (first amendment, gun rights, cost of living, economy) and relate how voting impacts those areas. Instead of abstract reasons, personalize the conversation around their priorities.
• Localize the Impact: Discuss how voting affects their community (taxes, schools, local infrastructure) rather than focusing solely on national elections.

3. Lead by Example

• Share Your Voting Experience: Talk about how you prepare for voting, why it’s important to you, and how it’s made you feel more empowered or connected to the community.
• Offer Help, Not Pressure: If they’re unsure how to get involved, offer to help them check their registration, find local polling places, or walk them through the process.

4. Use Technology

• Stay Connected Through Social Media: Share informative and non-confrontational posts about the importance of voting. You can engage them with humor or relatable content rather than political debates.
• Send Personal Messages: Instead of a group setting, reach out one-on-one through calls, texts, or private messages. Personal conversations tend to be more impactful than public discussions.
• Create a Voting Group Chat: Form a chat group where friends and family can exchange ideas, share voting reminders, or coordinate voting plans.

5. Invite Them to Social or Civic Events

• Community-Based Activities: Attend or invite them to local events (town halls, voter education forums, etc.) that connect people around shared causes without the pressure of direct political talk.
• Host Informal Gatherings: Plan a casual get-together with a fun theme, like “Pizza & Politics,” to lightly discuss current issues while keeping the mood relaxed and social.

6. Follow Up Respectfully

• Check In Occasionally: Don’t make voting a constant topic of discussion, but check in before elections to see how they’re feeling about it.
• Offer Encouragement, Not Ultimatums: Let them know their voice matters, but make it clear that your relationship isn’t conditional on whether they vote.

By connecting with understanding and a non-confrontational approach, you’ll likely encourage them to reflect on the importance of their voice in the political process while maintaining a strong relationship.