--- title: "The Role Associations Play in Civic Engagement" id: "50787" type: "post" slug: "the-role-associations-play-in-civic-engagement" published_at: "2020-08-12T16:40:10+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T03:51:49+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/08/12/the-role-associations-play-in-civic-engagement/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/08/12/the-role-associations-play-in-civic-engagement.md" excerpt: "Combating misinformation in the 2020 elections; information professionals as reliable storytellers; promoting the importance of voter turnout." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "centennial" - "civic engagement" - "elections" - "member voting" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » The Role Associations Play in Civic Engagement ### Election 2020’s Reliable Source *Civic Engagement • National Association of Secretaries of State* Combating misinformation in the 2020 elections is the goal of the National Association of Secretaries of State’s #TrustedInfo2020 campaign, which encourages the public to reach out to state and local election officials as reliable sources for accurate election information. “The best way we can combat potential foreign influence in the 2020 elections is to be united as Americans and look to election officials for accurate election information,” says NASS President Paul Pate, the Iowa secretary of state. “By promoting #TrustedInfo2020, my colleagues and I are able to shine a bright light on the importance of getting election information directly from us—the trusted sources.” NASS is joining partners in government, associations, and the technology space to help promote this message to a broad audience. Partners include the National Governors Association, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Association of Attorneys General, the Center for Democracy and Technology, Google, Facebook, and Twitter. *— Lisa Boylan* ### Information Storytellers *Civic Engagement • Special Libraries Association* In a world where it can be hard to know what to believe, it matters where information comes from. Members of the Special Libraries Association are information professionals who research, curate, and analyze content and data in government, corporate, and other specialized settings. As “information storytellers,” they ensure that information is reliably sourced and presented accurately, says SLA Executive Director Amy Lestition Burke, MA, CAE. A new SLA Working Group on Return on Investment is focused on showing their value and advocating for information centers inside more institutions. “I see a world that no longer questions the validity of information, content, and data because the information professional community has evolved its credibility,” Burke says. *— Julie Shoop* ### Promote the Vote *Civic Engagement • Civic Alliance* As Election Day nears, get-out-the-vote initiatives are ramping up. The Civic Alliance, an initiative of the nonprofit Democracy Works, has financial support from health insurers, cable TV networks, tech giants, and other companies. The alliance encourages voter turnout, 2020 census participation, and more. The CAA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Hollywood talent agency, is at the center of the campaign. CAA President Richard Lovett says the diverse alliance is particularly important in an election year to encourage first-time voters, promote online registration efforts, and help voters find their nearest polling station. He says he hopes the combined efforts will “shape a more optimistic future.” *— Lisa Boylan* (emarto/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) Tags: [#centennial](https://associationsnow.com/tag/centennial/) [#civic engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/civic-engagement/) [#elections](https://associationsnow.com/tag/elections/) [#member voting](https://associationsnow.com/tag/member-voting/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2020%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-role-associations-play-in-civic-engagement%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !