Wichita has a significant opportunity to strengthen civic participation beyond Election Day. In the March 2026 Wichita sales tax election, 252,946 residents were registered to vote, yet only 19.9% participated—leaving a large gap between civic eligibility and civic action.

The Civic Action Passport Program turns this challenge into an opportunity by making civic participation visible, accessible, interactive, and rewarding. Rather than defining civic engagement solely as voting, the program invites residents to explore the many ways they can participate: learning how local government works, attending public meetings, connecting with community organizations, volunteering, engaging with neighborhood issues, and exercising their voice.
The innovation is creating a pathway from awareness to action—a simple, library-led framework that helps residents discover meaningful civic activities and build habits of participation. The goal is a more informed, connected, and actively engaged Wichita.

By making civic engagement visible, social, and rewarding, the Passport creates a scalable model for building civic confidence. A partnership between Wichita Public Library, the City of Wichita, and the Kansas Leadership Center, the program uses gamification and a community-wide network to turn existing civic opportunities into a connected pathway for participation.

Residents participate online or receive a passport and earn stamps by attending public meetings, workshops, cultural events, volunteer activities, forums, and other community experiences. A shared symbol identifies activities across partner organizations and targeted tracks engage families, teens, and young professionals.
The program’s key innovation is its ecosystem model: instead of creating another standalone program, it connects the city’s existing civic, cultural, educational, and nonprofit assets into one coordinated experience. Incentives and recognition encourage residents to take increasingly meaningful steps.

More than 3000 physical passports have been passed out and participants can enter online as well. Based on online participation:
528 people signed up since it launched
35 completions
1,114 civic engagement activities completed
31 people reported helping their neighbor with a project
37 people reported registering to vote
71 people reported shopping local and supporting a small business
48 reported attending a local meeting, talking to or writing a letter to a local official
66 people reported volunteering
45 voted in a local election
15 attended a neighborhood association meeting

Most promotion for the Civic Action Passport is coming from participants themselves. Visit Wichita has helped promote the passport as part of the City's America 250 celebrations and the passport was highlighted at the National Civics Bee in Wichita in April 2026.

Supporting Materials:

• YouTube Short: Wichita Civic Action Passport