diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/communities.astro b/frontend/src/pages/communities.astro
index ed3d202..23f1c78 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/communities.astro
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/communities.astro
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ import { API_BASE as apiBase } from '../lib/api';
     var allCommunities = [];
     var currentQuery = '';
     var currentSort = 'name_asc';
+    var token = localStorage.getItem('token');
 
     function escapeHtml(value) {
       return String(value || '').replace(/[&<>\"']/g, function(ch) {
@@ -122,8 +123,18 @@ import { API_BASE as apiBase } from '../lib/api';
       var container = document.getElementById('communities-list');
       if (!container) return;
 
-      var label = isFiltered ? 'No communities match your search.' : 'No communities found.';
-      var hint = isFiltered ? 'Try a different keyword or clear the search.' : 'Please try again later.';
+      var isLoggedIn = !!token;
+      var label;
+      var hint;
+      if (isFiltered) {
+        label = 'No communities match your search.';
+        hint = 'Try a different keyword or clear the search.';
+      } else {
+        label = isLoggedIn ? 'No communities yet.' : 'No communities found.';
+        hint = isLoggedIn
+          ? 'Create the first community to start organizing proposals.'
+          : 'Sign in to create a community, or refresh to try again.';
+      }
 
       container.innerHTML =
         '<div class="state-card ui-card">' +
@@ -131,6 +142,8 @@ import { API_BASE as apiBase } from '../lib/api';
           '<p class="hint">' + hint + '</p>' +
           '<div class="state-actions">' +
             (isFiltered ? '<button type="button" class="ui-btn ui-btn-secondary" id="reset-community-search">Reset search</button>' : '') +
+            (!isFiltered && isLoggedIn ? '<a class="ui-btn ui-btn-primary" href="/communities/new">Create Community</a>' : '') +
+            (!isFiltered && !isLoggedIn ? '<a class="ui-btn ui-btn-secondary" href="/login">Sign In</a>' : '') +
             '<a class="ui-btn ui-btn-primary" href="/communities">Refresh</a>' +
           '</div>' +
         '</div>';
@@ -265,7 +278,6 @@ import { API_BASE as apiBase } from '../lib/api';
     }
 
     // Show create button if logged in
-    var token = localStorage.getItem('token');
     var createBtn = document.getElementById('create-btn');
     if (token && createBtn) {
       createBtn.style.display = 'block';
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/communities/[slug]/proposals/index.astro b/frontend/src/pages/communities/[slug]/proposals/index.astro
index 125f809..442833d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/communities/[slug]/proposals/index.astro
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/communities/[slug]/proposals/index.astro
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ const { slug } = Astro.params;
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div id="proposals-list" class="list">
+      <div id="proposals-list" class="list" aria-live="polite">
         <div class="list-skeleton">
           <div class="skeleton-card"></div>
           <div class="skeleton-card"></div>
@@ -154,7 +154,18 @@ const { slug } = Astro.params;
     if (!container) return;
 
     if (proposals.length === 0) {
-      container.innerHTML = '<div class="ui-card"><p class="empty">No proposals found.</p></div>';
+      const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
+      const isLoggedIn = !!token;
+      container.innerHTML = `
+        <div class="state-card ui-card">
+          <p class="empty">No proposals yet.</p>
+          <p class="hint">Create the first proposal for this community to start collecting feedback and votes.</p>
+          <div class="state-actions">
+            ${isLoggedIn ? `<a class="ui-btn ui-btn-primary" href="/communities/${encodeURIComponent(String(slug))}/proposals/new">+ New Proposal</a>` : '<a class="ui-btn ui-btn-secondary" href="/login">Sign In</a>'}
+            <a class="ui-btn ui-btn-secondary" href="/communities/${encodeURIComponent(String(slug))}">Back to community</a>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      `;
       return;
     }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/proposals.astro b/frontend/src/pages/proposals.astro
index a26cd3b..164530d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/proposals.astro
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/proposals.astro
@@ -100,13 +100,18 @@ import { API_BASE as apiBase } from '../lib/api';
     const container = document.getElementById('proposals-list');
     if (!container) return;
 
+    const label = isFiltered ? 'No proposals match your filters.' : 'No proposals yet.';
+    const hint = isFiltered
+      ? 'Try adjusting search, status, or sort.'
+      : 'To create one, open a community and click New Proposal.';
+
     container.innerHTML = `
       <div class="state-card ui-card">
-        <p class="empty">${isFiltered ? 'No proposals match your filters.' : 'No proposals found.'}</p>
-        <p class="hint">Try adjusting search, status, or sort.</p>
+        <p class="empty">${label}</p>
+        <p class="hint">${hint}</p>
         <div class="state-actions">
-          <button type="button" class="ui-btn ui-btn-secondary" id="reset-filters">Reset filters</button>
-          <a class="ui-btn ui-btn-primary" href="/communities">Go to communities</a>
+          ${isFiltered ? '<button type="button" class="ui-btn ui-btn-secondary" id="reset-filters">Reset filters</button>' : ''}
+          <a class="ui-btn ui-btn-primary" href="/communities">Browse communities</a>
         </div>
       </div>
     `;