Forums provide you with an opportunity to learn more about the candidates, meet them personally, ask them questions, or offer your views on important issues. Give them a tour of the bridge you just built, the dam you designed, or the facility where you research pavement stability. Not only will candidates become more familiar with you, but they'll get to know more about the civil engineering profession. If you ask, candidates will often provide you with information about themselves and their viewpoints on the issues. You can also obtain information on state and national candidates from Vote Smart, a voter education project.
Most candidates also have their own websites.
Write to your newspaper about who you feel the best candidate is and why . Once you know who your favorite candidates are, educate others. Publicize your concerns as a civil engineer or interested constituent. Other voters may not understand the importance of a candidate's views on infrastructure projects. However, civil engineers can bridge that knowledge gap by explaining the pros and cons of various projects that may be under consideration, or the importance of facility maintenance and upgrades.