Open Participation

The open participation survey, conducted alongside the random sample survey, allows all residents to share their opinions, not just those randomly selected. While the questions in both surveys are the same, the open participation survey has a unique web link that the City can distribute through various communication channels. To assist with outreach, we’ve created social media templates and press releases. Additionally, the Knowledge Base offers resources specifically for open participation outreach strategies.

One key advantage of the open participation survey is that it helps your community build a digital panel of residents. By default, respondents must register with Polco (by providing their email address and zip code) before submitting their response. We include clear information at the start of the survey about this requirement, ensuring respondent confidentiality and privacy. As more residents register, your community’s panel will grow, making it easier to engage them on future initiatives or hot topics through additional surveys or polls.

Although registration is recommended, you can choose to allow "guest responses," which don’t require registration. While guest responses remain confidential, fewer people tend to join your panel this way. Additionally, identifying potential duplicate responses becomes more difficult. When guest responses are enabled, respondents can still choose to provide their email and zip code after completing the survey, though they're less likely to do so.

Non-residents who frequently use City services or have opinions about them can also participate in the open participation survey, as long as they learn about it through City communication. In contrast, the random sample survey is limited to City residents, as they are more likely to use and help pay for those services regularly.