A More Engaged Northbrook is a Better Northbrook

Engage Northbrook is dedicated to increasing civic participation, voter education, and meaningful community dialogue right here in Northbrook, Illinois—because a more engaged Northbrook is a better Northbrook.

We believe our village thrives when:
✔️ Local elections are competitive. Leadership is stronger when voters have real choices.
✔️ Voter turnout is strong. Higher participation ensures leadership reflects the entire community—not just a small fraction of voters.
✔️ Diverse perspectives shape decision-making. Our elected leaders make better choices when they incorporate a broad range of community voices.
✔️ Transparency and engagement drive better governance. More participation leads to more accountability and more responsive leadership.

Engage Northbrook was created to increase voter participation, encourage informed decision-making, and spark meaningful conversations about local issues.  Our village thrives when more of us are involved.

Northbrook is a vibrant, engaged community in many ways—yet when it comes to local elections, participation tells a different story. Despite the impact our Village Board has on everything from development and taxes to public services and infrastructure, voter turnout remains consistently low.

Consider these numbers:

📉 The highest turnout since at least 2009 was in 2021, with only 23.7% of voters participating. That means even in the most engaged election year, more than three-quarters of registered voters did not cast a ballot.
📉 In 2023, turnout dropped to just 10.96%—fewer than one in nine registered voters made decisions for a community of over 30,000 people.
📉 Several election years saw turnout below 6%, meaning an even smaller fraction of residents shaped the direction of our local government.

Voter Turnout in Northbrook Municipal Elections since 2009:

🔹 2023: 10.96% (3,076 out of 28,070)
🔹 2021: 23.71% (7,371 out of 31,090)
🔹 2019: 5.12% (1,513 out of 29,563)
🔹 2017: 12.3% (3,490 out of 28,367)
🔹 2015: 3.9% (1,039 out of 26,643)
🔹 2013: 13.3% (3,624 out of 27,229)
🔹 2011: 3,130 votes cast (registration data unavailable)
🔹 2009: 6,981 votes cast (registration data unavailable)

Why Does This Matter?

Decisions are being made by a small fraction of the community.  When turnout is this low, a tiny percentage of voters determine the outcome of our elections. That means fewer voices are shaping Northbrook’s future.

Competitive elections are rare.  No Northbrook Caucus-endorsed candidate has lost since before 2009—often because they run unopposed. When there’s little or no competition, voter engagement naturally declines.

Our Village Board makes critical decisions.  From long-term land use planning (Grainger, Green Acres) to infrastructure investments and local taxation, the policies set at the village level impact residents daily. Shouldn’t more of us be part of that decision-making process?

We want to change the story. More participation leads to more accountability, more transparency, and better governance. Northbrook deserves elections where real choices exist, and where every resident has the information and encouragement to take part.

At Engage Northbrook, we are committed to informing, empowering, and engaging residents in the civic process. We do not endorse candidates, push political agendas, or tell you how to vote. Instead, we focus on providing the tools, information, and opportunities for every resident to participate meaningfully in local elections and governance.

Here’s what you can expect from us:

Nonpartisan, Fact-Based Information

We believe that an informed voter is an empowered voter. Engage Northbrook will provide:
✔️ Clear, accessible details on who is running, what they stand for, and how to vote.
✔️ Reliable, fact-based explanations of local issues, policies, and decisions.
✔️ No endorsements—just the information you need to make your own informed choices.

A Commitment to Accountability

Good governance requires both transparency and competition—and that means holding our elected officials and political organizations to a high standard. Engage Northbrook will:
✔️ Hold the Village Board accountable for their decisions, actions, and transparency.
✔️ Demand fairness from political organizations that shape our elections. Candidate selection should be open and transparent, not predetermined behind closed doors.
✔️ Push for competitive elections. Voters should have real choices—not single-option ballots that discourage engagement.

A Space for Constructive Civic Engagement

Civic participation should be welcoming and solutions-focused, not divisive or performative. We will:
✔️ Encourage meaningful conversations about issues that impact Northbrook.
✔️ Provide opportunities to engage with local government, ask questions, and stay informed.
✔️ Support respectful, nonpartisan discussions—without political attacks or personal agendas.

A Focus on Action, Not Just Awareness

Raising awareness is important—but action is what drives change. Engage Northbrook will:
✔️ Make voting easier by helping residents navigate early voting, mail-in ballots, and registration.
✔️ Encourage voter pledges to boost turnout in every election.
✔️ Advocate for greater resident involvement in the decisions shaping our village.

Transparency in Everything We Do

We believe in leading by example. Just as we expect transparency from our local government, you can expect it from us. Engage Northbrook will:
✔️ Be clear about our purpose, our funding, and our activities.
✔️ Share information openly and welcome feedback from the community.
✔️ Stay focused on solutions—because civic participation is about making things better, not just pointing out problems.