The Untapped Power of Arkansas Seniors in Civic Life
A few weeks ago, I spoke with a retired teacher in Little Rock who told me, "I vote, but beyond that, I don’t know where my voice fits anymore." She spent decades shaping young minds, but now she feels like she’s on the sidelines. And she’s not alone.
Seniors in Arkansas—and across the country—are expressing deep frustration with the political system. They’re watching elected officials bicker, watching policies shift without their input, and watching younger generations struggle with issues they’ve seen coming for decades. They want to do more, but no one is asking them to.
The Numbers Paint a Stark Picture
In the 2020 presidential election, Arkansas ranked 50th in voter turnout—just 55.5% of eligible voters cast a ballot. While older voters tend to participate more reliably than younger generations, engagement beyond Election Day is strikingly low. The state lacks a clear infrastructure for senior involvement in civic decision-making, and that’s a missed opportunity.
Public trust in government is at historic lows. A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that only 4% of U.S. adults believe the political system is working extremely or very well, while 63% express little to no confidence in its future. Disillusionment is widespread, but disengagement doesn’t have to be the answer. Seniors have the time, experience, and historical perspective to contribute in powerful ways. They just need an invitation to the table.
A Resource We’re Ignoring
Other states have tapped into the potential of their aging populations in ways Arkansas has not. In Texas, Woori Juntos offers a Civic Engagement Fellowship that empowers and mobilizes community Korean members residing in senior housing, ethnic markets, and places of worship to actively participate in the democratic process. In Florida, retiree-led advocacy groups have successfully shaped local and state policies on healthcare, housing, and transportation.
We already have examples in Arkansas—like the Silver Haired Legislative Session, where seniors draft and debate legislation—but these programs are underfunded and largely symbolic. Meanwhile, multiple organizations work to expand civic participation, but seniors remain an afterthought in many of these efforts. Why?
Because we still operate under the assumption that civic engagement is for the young, and that older adults are passive recipients of political decisions rather than active participants in shaping them.
What Comes Next?
We need to shift our approach. Here’s how:
Civic Engagement Infrastructure for Seniors: More formal opportunities for senior participation. We are seeing seniors show up to protests, lead email and letter writing campaigns, but perhaps we can rethink other ways for them to become active. For example, monitoring committee meetings, events that largely happen during the day, may be the perfect opportunity for seniors to use their lifetime of experiences and time availability to ensure transparency and accountability by law and rule makers.
Targeted Outreach: Community leaders must actively invite and recruit seniors to participate in local government meetings, advocacy groups, and volunteer initiatives. Do you know of senior clubs, communities, or gatherings where seniors might be engaged?
Workshops & Training: Just like we help young people register to vote and understand the political system, we should be doing the same for seniors—focusing on digital literacy, advocacy tools, and legislative processes.
Your Move, Arkansas
The expertise, wisdom, and sheer numbers of seniors in Arkansas make them an undeniable force in civic life—if we stop overlooking them.
So here’s my challenge: If you’re a policymaker, non-profit leader, or community organizer, start asking how seniors fit into your work. If you’re a senior who wants to be involved but doesn’t know how, reach out. Let’s build a system where seniors don’t just vote and watch from the sidelines—they lead, shape, and drive change in Arkansas.
The table is set. It’s time to pull up more chairs.