Civic Engagement

When a community is civically engaged, residents have a deeper connection to their neighborhoods and each other, creating a stronger, more vibrant, and inclusive city. The Omaha-Council Bluffs area is known for its philanthropy and friendliness, but few in our community are working collaboratively with neighbors to solve problems, and we are less politically engaged than other similarly sized regions.

Diversity of Elected Officials

Although women make up about 50% of the population, their representation in local and state government is often lower than 50%.

In city government, women are under-represented in Omaha, Bellevue, and Council Bluffs, as well as in the legislative representation from Pottawattamie County and, to a lesser extent, Douglas County.

The underrepresentation of women in our local and state offices mirrors the situation at the national level. While women make up roughly 50% of the U.S. population, only 28% of U.S. representatives are female.

Volunteering & Philanthropy

A large percentage of people in our community are giving or volunteering.

Locally, volunteer rates and the percentage of people giving at least $25 in the past year have been consistently highest among people ages 36-45. The percentages of people volunteering and giving generally dropped between 2019 and 2021.

Omaha and Council Bluffs rates of giving and volunteering are higher than national averages.

However, rates of volunteering and giving decreased noticeably between 2019 and 2021. The Omaha-Council Bluffs area experienced the largest drops.

Neighborhood Connectivity

Residents in all age groups report working with neighbors. Rates of collaboration vary by age.

Neighborhood connectivity slightly exceeds the national average.

Between 2019 and 2021, measures of neighborhood connectivity declined. This was more pronounced in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area compared to the state or national levels.

Voter Participation

Voter turnout rates remained stable in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area, typically ranging from 40% to 60% during midterm elections. Turnout rates increase significantly during presidential elections.

Local voter turnout rates closely paralleled those at the state and national levels. In the 2020 election, turnout rates across the state and country surged compared to 2016.