Loving Your Town Boosts Civic Participation Sixfold

What if the key to fixing democracy wasn't more political ads or voter drives, but simply helping people love where they live?

Political scientist Sean Richey from Georgia State University discovered something remarkable. When people were asked to think about their feelings toward their town before making a donation to solve a local problem, 18% chose to give. When there was no emotional prompt, only 3% donated. That's a sixfold increase driven by one simple question about how they felt about their community.

The research comes at a critical time. When Eileen Higgins made history as Miami's first female mayor in December 2025, four out of five registered voters stayed home. Low turnout plagues local elections nationwide, often dropping below 20%.

Richey surveyed 500 Americans about their feelings toward their hometowns. About half said they "liked" their community, 20% loved it, but a full quarter expressed no positive feelings at all. Three percent outright hated where they lived.

Those emotions mattered more than anyone expected. Even after accounting for age, education, and income, loving one's town strongly predicted participation in local politics. People who loved their community were far more likely to attend city council meetings, contact officials, volunteer for campaigns, and discuss local issues with friends.

The Ripple Effect

This emotional connection solves a fundamental puzzle in political science. Why would anyone spend time on local politics when the personal benefit seems so small?

The answer is surprisingly hopeful. When people care deeply about their community, the emotional reward of helping becomes its own motivation. The sacrifice feels worthwhile because they're investing in something that matters to them.

Even better, local attachment isn't permanent. A second experiment showed that simply asking people to consider feelings of hate toward their town led 5% to donate, while considering love prompted 8% to give. The control group with no emotional prompt? Zero donations.

The findings suggest practical solutions. Communities can build local patriotism through regular events like farmers markets and festivals. Celebrating iconic landmarks gives residents shared points of pride. Bringing children to community events and local organizations builds the next generation's emotional connection to place.

Unlike national politics, local patriotism doesn't risk increasing negative emotions like xenophobia. The positive feelings people develop toward their community translate directly into civic engagement without harmful side effects.

For local leaders struggling with apathy, the message is clear: before asking residents to show up, give them reasons to care about where they live.