Title: The Importance of Citizen Participation | Voxcitio
Headings: The Importance of Citizen Participation
The Importance of Citizen Participation
Brendan Tobin
The Value of Citizen Participation
Various Forms of Citizen Participation
The Challenge
Getting the People Interested
Ultimately, Engagement is Better

Content: Citizen’s involvement in governance helps to build accountability and responsibilities for both public officials and the citizens
Getting the People Interested
Some individuals in specific areas live outside the realm of ‘community’, not switched on to its importance. Rural places have an innate sense of community compared to some urban areas. Key factors for success in citizen engagement in politics include: 1) Exchange of information
2) Consultation by public participation
Governments everywhere have been criticized for creating distance with people, for their lack of sensitivities regarding civic concerns, leaving them out from governance. There is a need for a greater government transparency and accountability, especially by promoting public media scrutiny of government actions. The public should have access to the meetings at a community level and notifications are required by law to be posted prior to the meetings. Ultimately, Engagement is Better
Involving ordinary people in the decision making aims to influence the quality and volume of public services for the benefit of citizens. More often than not the voluntary contribution is requested to get a deeper understanding of the pros and cons of some projects. Direct citizen’s participation in governance through development and protection of the community or the environment are but a few of the most obvious ones. The most important principles in local development are citizen’s participation.