How do I post to a forum?

Once you have joined a forum, there are two ways to post: via Email and by using the website.

To Post Via Email

To start a new topic via email, address your email to the FORUM email address found at the bottom of every email from the forum. Tip: Create a contact for your forum! The Forum email address can also be found in the left sidebar at the group home page.

To contribute your thoughts to the discussion, use “Reply To All.”

Learn more about how to reply privately to another author without posting to the forum.

To Post Messages Via the website

Log into your account at www.e-democracy.org

Select the forum you wish to post to.

To start a new topic, use the green +New topic button next to the search bar at the top of the right column.

To add a post to an existing topic, select that topic from the list and use the "Post a reply" dialogue box below the last post in that topic. Enter you message and click on the “Post” button.

Special Notes:

1. When using the web, the grayed out Post/Start button turns green and get activated when text has been entered into the post field(s). In the case of starting a New Topic, text must be entered in BOTH the Title and the Body fields to activate the "Start" button.
2. Key: Pick a good subject line as the subject line as this becomes the Topic on the web and needs to make sense to web-based viewers.
3. New forum members are moderated to prevent spammers and robots from joining the forums. Most are taken off of moderation by the volunteer Forum Manager after their first successful post. Once you are unmoderated your posts will go through automatically. This can create a time difference between when you post a topic and it shows up on the forum. You will always get a moderation message when your post is moderated.
4. You will be able to see your posts at your Forum's web page but the system doesn't send posts back to senders so they won't arrive in your email inbox.

Additional Resources

One-page handout on "How to Post" (pdf).

Watch the "How to Post" YouTube video: