Interview with Lisa Hendrickson (Part 1)
Feel confident next time you head to the polls! To kick off our new series, Know About Political Engagement, Lisa Hendrickson joins the Know Why Podcast with tips on becoming an informed voter. Drawing from her years of experience managing campaigns and working in various political roles, Lisa encourages listeners to own their vote and know why it counts.
Own Your Vote
Lisa’s interest in political engagement took root when she was young. In grade school when she would complain that something was unjust, her mother would ask, what are you going to do about it? Today, Lisa believes in taking responsibility for one’s own freedom by staying politically active.
“If you’re not involved in politics, in my opinion, it will control you,” she told Know Why.
The first way to get involved is to vote. But for first-time or inexperienced voters, heading to the polls can be overwhelming—especially because there are no one-size-fits-all instructions. Details on how, when, and where to vote can vary between states, counties, and even precincts. Lisa offers tips on finding the relevant information for your area. She and Liberty also discuss tips for staying aware of important local elections.
Most of all, Lisa encourages Know Why listeners to do the hard and time-consuming work of researching candidates and issues and truly owning their vote. Don’t just vote for someone because a celebrity or politician you like endorsed them, she says.
“I’m ok with people voting a different way than me as long as you’re ok to own it,” she said.
Check back next week for Part 2 of Lisa’s interview with Know Why.
More Resources
- All Politics is Local: And Other Rules of the Game by Tip O’Neill and Gary Hymel