Kami Chavis Simmons, Justin Hansford, and Spencer Overton oped in St. Louis American suggests election law changes:

Change Election Timing. Whereas whites and blacks in Ferguson were almost equally likely to vote in the 2012 November presidential elections (55% of whites and 54% of blacks voted), whites were almost three times more likely than blacks to vote in the April 2013 municipal elections (17% of whites and 6% of blacks voted). Changing election timing for mayor, city council, and school board from April to the November presidential elections could save money, boost turnout of residents from all backgrounds, and make government more representative.

Other steps could boost accountability as well, including dash police vehicle and body cameras, a probable cause requirement for stops (higher than reasonable suspicion), and better hiring and training procedures. Local government could also be more representative by replacing at-large school board elections with single-member districts or ranked choice voting, early voting (including on weekends), same day registration, and compliance with federal law requiring voter registration at state offices. Further, officials should examine municipal consolidation, outsourcing police services to St. Louis County, and significant municipal court reforms.

Policy proposals are meaningless without effective community organizing. Engaged citizens are needed to develop a pipeline of representative candidates, to organize voter registration and mobilization, and to endorse representative candidates and distribute slates that flag them for voters in nonpartisan elections.