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A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may NOT support or oppose a candidate for public office or a political ... Why does your organization care about helping your community vote? ...
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Nonprofit VOTE GETTING- OUT-THE-VOTE FOR NONPROFITS October 21, 2010
Slide 2:AGENDA
Overview of Nonprofit Voter Engagement Staying Nonpartisan GOTV On Election Day .. ...
Slide 3:WHY VOTING?
The Nonprofit Community is perfectly suited to this work Clout! Public policies that represent our communities Stronger, healthier communities .. .. . Were large, were located in the neediest areas, were earned trust and respect in our communities Elected officials pay attention to those who vote. If your community doesnt vote, then your not going to get much attention, your not going to get that consideration when budget cuts are made Were large, were located in the neediest areas, were earned trust and respect in our communities Elected officials pay attention to those who vote. If your community doesnt vote, then your not going to get much attention, your not going to get that consideration when budget cuts are made
Slide 4: EXPANDING DEMOCRACY
What we know about creating new voters Personal contact Repeat messages from multiples sources Voting is a habit .. .. . Getting a piece of campaign lit in the mail or on your door is fine, but its nothing in comparison to having someone you know and respect ask you to vote. Anyway, your clients and community are not likely to get those mailings or door hangers. Traditional campaigns and parties dont reach out to low turnout communities. They dont send out the lit, they dont make the phone calls, they dont do the door knocking. Especially in a midterm election. Every effort you make has a cumulative effect. That poster in your lobby in combination with the sample ballot posted at your desk, in combination with the handout on who to call for help voting, in combination with someone actually asking you about voting those efforts add up!Getting a piece of campaign lit in the mail or on your door is fine, but its nothing in comparison to having someone you know and respect ask you to vote. Anyway, your clients and community are not likely to get those mailings or door hangers. Traditional campaigns and parties dont reach out to low turnout communities. They dont send out the lit, they dont make the phone calls, they dont do the door knocking. Especially in a midterm election. Every effort you make has a cumulative effect. That poster in your lobby in combination with the sample ballot posted at your desk, in combination with the handout on who to call for help voting, in combination with someone actually asking you about voting those efforts add up!
Slide 5:STAYING NONPARTISAN
The IRS places only one restriction on nonprofits doing voter engagement work. .. .. .
Slide 6:STAYING NONPARTISAN
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may NOT support or oppose a candidate for public office or a political party. .. .. .
Slide 7:STAYING NONPARTISAN
What CAN you do? Nonprofits may conduct nonpartisan voter engagement activities designed to educate the public and help them participate in elections Voter Education Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Election Day Activities .. .. .
Slide 8:WHAT STAFF CAN DO
Nonprofit staff MAY engage in partisan political activities on their own time, off the clock. .. .. . When youre on the clock you need to be serious about being nonpartisan. Encourage and help your clients to vote, but keep your partisan opinions to yourself. Of the clock you can do whatever you want. If you want to volunteer for a candidate, thats great, but you need to separate that from your work. So Dont use your work cellphone during any partisan work you do off the clock. Dont use your work email. Dont use your copier or fax machine at work. When you appear at a campaign event, its ok to state your organizational affiliation if its for the purpose of identifying yourself, but you need ot be clear that youre not there as a rep of your org. When youre on the clock you need to be serious about being nonpartisan. Encourage and help your clients to vote, but keep your partisan opinions to yourself. Of the clock you can do whatever you want. If you want to volunteer for a candidate, thats great, but you need to separate that from your work. So Dont use your work cellphone during any partisan work you do off the clock. Dont use your work email. Dont use your copier or fax machine at work. When you appear at a campaign event, its ok to state your organizational affiliation if its for the purpose of identifying yourself, but you need ot be clear that youre not there as a rep of your org.
Slide 9:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
Were almost at the finish line. Time for that final push! .. .. .
Slide 10:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
4 out of 10 registered voters do not turn out in a midterm election . .. .. .
Slide 11:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
Therefore, ensuring that your communities get the help they need and make it to the polls on Election Day is one of the most important activities you, as a nonprofit, can do. .. .. .
Slide 12:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
Getting-Out-The-Vote: efforts on or just before Election Day to help your community members get to the polls. .. .. .
Slide 13:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
GOTV starts earlier now! Early voting is gaining popularity 1 in 3 voters vote early. Let your community know about the opportunity to vote early how and where to do it. .. .. . And that could be voting early by mail or voting early in person at a designated early voting location or a local election office So what that means in terms of gotv is that we need ot start earlier than we used to. So for those of you who hav done political work before, this is one way that traditional GOTV has changed in recent years. This trend toward early voting is huge. In fact, depending on where you are, a lot of you could probably go out and vote today without any excuse.And that could be voting early by mail or voting early in person at a designated early voting location or a local election office So what that means in terms of gotv is that we need ot start earlier than we used to. So for those of you who hav done political work before, this is one way that traditional GOTV has changed in recent years. This trend toward early voting is huge. In fact, depending on where you are, a lot of you could probably go out and vote today without any excuse.
Slide 14:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
.. .. . Provide Help Orient staff to answer basic election questions or where a voter can get help voting When providing services, ask people if theyre planning to vote and if they need help Help people vote early 1 of 3 voters are early voters Make it a critical part of every program on or near Election Day
Slide 15:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
The date of the election- Tuesday, Nov. 2 Help with finding polling place locations Distribution of sample ballots and voter guides Connection to help such as: Nonpartisan rides-to-the-polls Translation at the polls Disability assistance at the polls .. .. . How can you help? What sort of info can you provide Note about polling place locations: in 2008 the lawyers committee for civil rights ran a toll free help line 866-our-vote theyre running it again this year. What they found when they looked at all of the calls they received on election day is that by far the number one issue that people called them for help with was finding their polling place. And thats not hard to imagine, ya know, in y9our neighborhood theres a school at one end and a fire station at the other and theyre both polling places. Which one do you go to? Now imagine that you just moved to your neighborhood. Or just moved within your neighborhood Note about sample ballots: there was study done a while back that showed that one of the main things that ppl who didnt vote worried about was looking stupid at the polls. One way you can help mitigate that feeling is by providing a sample ballot. And even regular voters can benefit that. Think about Florida in 2000 and butterfly ballot. If ppl had had a chance to review that ballot ahead of time, how many ppl would have voted successfully? So you can increase comfort level and increase chance of voting successfully at the same time. And its very confusing b/c every state has a different method of voting and a different ballots design. Sometimes that method changes from county to county. And Voter Guides! Your local newspaper is a great place to look for guides, as is your local LWV and your SoS web site, esp. if you have ballot measures. Some time youll even get a candidate questionnaire. Cut it out! Photocopy it! Post! Help Lines: a lot of state have their own help lines, so thats something to check into as wellHow can you help? What sort of info can you provide Note about polling place locations: in 2008 the lawyers committee for civil rights ran a toll free help line 866-our-vote theyre running it again this year. What they found when they looked at all of the calls they received on election day is that by far the number one issue that people called them for help with was finding their polling place. And thats not hard to imagine, ya know, in y9our neighborhood theres a school at one end and a fire station at the other and theyre both polling places. Which one do you go to? Now imagine that you just moved to your neighborhood. Or just moved within your neighborhood Note about sample ballots: there was study done a while back that showed that one of the main things that ppl who didnt vote worried about was looking stupid at the polls. One way you can help mitigate that feeling is by providing a sample ballot. And even regular voters can benefit that. Think about Florida in 2000 and butterfly ballot. If ppl had had a chance to review that ballot ahead of time, how many ppl would have voted successfully? So you can increase comfort level and increase chance of voting successfully at the same time. And its very confusing b/c every state has a different method of voting and a different ballots design. Sometimes that method changes from county to county. And Voter Guides! Your local newspaper is a great place to look for guides, as is your local LWV and your SoS web site, esp. if you have ballot measures. Some time youll even get a candidate questionnaire. Cut it out! Photocopy it! Post! Help Lines: a lot of state have their own help lines, so thats something to check into as well
Slide 16:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
Help people understand what will happen at the polls, including: Id requirements Election Day Registration Provisional Ballots .. .. . And again, what are you going to communicate. We talked earlier about providing information to people that makes them comfortable with the voting process and therefore more likely vote and more likely to vote successfully. Lets talk more specifically about that. In addition to sample ballots, its important that people know what the ID requirements are in their state. That differs from state to state a lot. We have a tool to help with that. There are a lot of sites that can help with that. Ours, the LWV and NOIs election admin guide. And for all th3ese links Im mentioning Im gonna send you guys a follow up email that includes all that stuffAnd again, what are you going to communicate. We talked earlier about providing information to people that makes them comfortable with the voting process and therefore more likely vote and more likely to vote successfully. Lets talk more specifically about that. In addition to sample ballots, its important that people know what the ID requirements are in their state. That differs from state to state a lot. We have a tool to help with that. There are a lot of sites that can help with that. Ours, the LWV and NOIs election admin guide. And for all th3ese links Im mentioning Im gonna send you guys a follow up email that includes all that stuff
Slide 17:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
People need a reason to vote. It is your job to communicate a sense of urgency and turn up the nonpartisan volume in the final days leading up to the Election. Why does your organization care about helping your community vote? Communicate that! .. .. . So we just talked about some examples of the kind of information that you can provide on how to vote, but even after youve removed all the barriers to voting by giving people the help they need, they still need a REASON to vote.So we just talked about some examples of the kind of information that you can provide on how to vote, but even after youve removed all the barriers to voting by giving people the help they need, they still need a REASON to vote.
Slide 18:GETTING-OUT-THE-VOTE
Make this about your community and make it a celebration!! .. .. . Tips on a REASON to vote. Make it about your nonprofit, but also make it about your community. So heres an example of what not to do: You need to vote, because its your civic duty, its your responsibility! People dont respond well to being told what to do or what their duty or responsibility is. But they do want to help their communities! And if you make it about your community, ppl will want to stand up for their neighborhoods. They want their communities to be strong. They want the good roads and good schools and the traffic light where they should have put one years ago and the covered shelter at the bus stop so they dont get soaked. Tip Two: make it celebratory! We have a chance to be heard. This is it. Tips on a REASON to vote. Make it about your nonprofit, but also make it about your community. So heres an example of what not to do: You need to vote, because its your civic duty, its your responsibility! People dont respond well to being told what to do or what their duty or responsibility is. But they do want to help their communities! And if you make it about your community, ppl will want to stand up for their neighborhoods. They want their communities to be strong. They want the good roads and good schools and the traffic light where they should have put one years ago and the covered shelter at the bus stop so they dont get soaked. Tip Two: make it celebratory! We have a chance to be heard. This is it.
Slide 19:GETTING-OUT-THE-VOTE
Consider: Where are your points of contact? Your trusting relationships High traffic areas Community events .. .. . So how do we actually do this? What are the activities and how do we do them?So how do we actually do this? What are the activities and how do we do them?
Slide 20:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
Every person in contact with your agency should know it is Election Day. All outgoing emails and email signatures Website Social Media Text Messages Newsletter .. .. . Once youve figured out what your points of contact are and where you community members are, you need to reach out to them. How? Here are some suggestions All of your communications vehicles should be inlcudedOnce youve figured out what your points of contact are and where you community members are, you need to reach out to them. How? Here are some suggestions All of your communications vehicles should be inlcuded
Slide 21:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
.. .. . Create Visibility The election should be visible to everyone who walks into your agency or attends any of your trainings or events Put up Vote November 2 signage posters, flyers, etc - throughout the lobby and all public spaces Make announcements or hold discussions at meetings, events, classes, etc Encourage media popular with the people you serve to promote the election and where voters can find help One basic way to communicate your message is through visibility!One basic way to communicate your message is through visibility!
Slide 22:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
Sample activities: Hold a mock election at your nonprofit Teach voting vocabulary words Hold a debate watching party or a party to watch the results come in on Election Day Hold a Trick or Vote event Pass out sample ballots Create a simple handout with information on: what races are on the ballot how to vote polling place locations ballot initiatives .. .. . Trick or vote If your org gives out candy on halloween, include some voting info with that for the parents. Cant hurt right? Through a voting themed halloween party Trick or vote If your org gives out candy on halloween, include some voting info with that for the parents. Cant hurt right? Through a voting themed halloween party
Slide 23:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
More Sample activities: Call through your list of constituents and ask people if they know where to go to vote on Election Day. Offer rides to the polls or connect constituents to those offering rides .. .. . Trick or vote If your org gives out candy on halloween, include some voting info with that for the parents. Cant hurt right? Through a voting themed halloween party Trick or vote If your org gives out candy on halloween, include some voting info with that for the parents. Cant hurt right? Through a voting themed halloween party
Slide 24:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
Special Activities Discuss the election with those who are not citizens and ways they can participate as a volunteer or helping others vote. Make sure that people with disabilities know their rights and know where and how to vote on Election Day Make sure ex-offenders understand their right to vote. .. .. .
Slide 25:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
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Slide 26:GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
.. .. . Principles of GOTV Make it Personal Get Voters the Help They Need Turn up the (Nonpartisan) Volume So, to review .So, to review .
Slide 27:ELECTION DAY
.. .. . On Election Day Make Election day special. Treat it like day both of political importance and time celebrate democracy Allow staff to spend part or all of Election Day doing nonpartisan get out the vote activities Encourage your staff and volunteers to sign up as poll workers or translators Ask everyone you connect with if theyve voted or need help voting Put up big Vote Today signs with a number to call or place to go for help Have an Election day party
Slide 28:MORE RESOURCES
.. .. . More Resources at www.nonprofitvote.org Webinar page Download or view past webinars Nonprofit Voter Participation Starter Kit Order free copy 501c3 Online Guide to Nonpartisan Voter Participation dowloadable or watch the narrated online training presentation Hosting a Candidate Forum Download the print publication or watch the narrated online training presentation Learn About Voting in Your State State by state voting information provided in cooperation with the National Association of Secretaries of State Fact sheets, checklists and more Links to voter guides and sample ballots
Slide 29:Contact Us!
Nonprofit VOTE www.nonprofitvote.org Bridgette Rongitsch bridgette@nonprofitvote.org 651-757-3085
