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VOTER ENGAGEMENT BASICS For Nonprofits

VOTER ENGAGEMENT BASICS For Nonprofits. Presented by. About us.

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VOTER ENGAGEMENT BASICS For Nonprofits

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  1. VOTER ENGAGEMENT BASICSFor Nonprofits Presentedby

  2. About us Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with America's nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the leading source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services. Find out more about our mission and partnerson our site at www.nonprofitvote.org About Us

  3. Today’s presenters Julian Johannesen Director of Research and Training Nonprofit VOTE Ashley Herad Civic Engagement and Policy Director Louisiana Association of Nonprofits Organizations Who

  4. Vote November 6th! Agenda

  5. OPPORTUNITY 2012 • The first election after redistricting! • 50 million more people will vote in 2012 than did in 2010 • 15 million people will vote for the first time this year Opportunity 2012

  6. WHY VOTING? • Advance our mission and our issues • Increase voting in our communities • Build clout for the work we do and people we serve • Get our ideas in front of candidates Opportunity 2012

  7. WHY NONPROFITS Trust and Respect in our communities Accessto underrepresented populations Interest in positive role of government Opportunity 2012

  8. agenda • Getting Started • Being Nonpartisan • Voter Registration • Voter Education • Working with Candidates • Ballot Measures • Get Out The Vote and Election Day • Resources Agenda

  9. GETTING STARTED

  10. Buy-In and Leadership • Get buy-in from your Executive Director or program manager • Choose a staff lead, someone who will become the point person for your voter engagement work Get Started

  11. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE • Who is your audience • Staff and volunteers • Clients and constituents • People in your community Get Started

  12. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT • What are your points of contact with your audiences? When, where and how do you interact with them? • Point of service • Classes and trainings • Meetings • Community events • In your lobby • Over the phone • Are there particular races or ballot measures you want to focus on? Get Started

  13. VOTING IN YOUR STATE • Learn about voting in your state • Voter registration deadline • Voter registration opportunities • Voting eligibility for ex-offenders • Early voting • Voter ID Get Started

  14. VOTING IN YOUR STATE Get Started

  15. MORE RESOURCES ON GETTING STARTED • Visit the Get Started page of our website and get our • Getting Started checklist • Voter Participation Starter Kit • Watch the “Make a Plan” webinar on our YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/nonprofitvote Get Started

  16. BEING NONPARTISAN

  17. THE ONE RULE A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may not support or oppose a candidate for public office or a political party. A 501(c)(3) may not: Make an endorsement Donate money or resources Rank candidates on a single issue Nonpartisan

  18. WHAT NONPROFITS CAN DO Nonprofits may conduct nonpartisan voter engagement activities designed to educate the public and help them participate in elections Voter Registration Voter Education Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Candidate Forums Nonpartisan

  19. WHAT STAFF CAN DO Nonprofit staff are free to engage in partisan activities, such as supporting a candidate, outside of normal work hours, i.e. off the clock. However, staff members cannot be seen as representing the organization on a campaign nor may they use organizational resources for a candidate. Nonpartisan

  20. RESOURCES ON BEING NONPARTISAN Visit the “Staying Nonpartisan” page of our website to: Download our guide to staying nonpartisan, “Nonprofits, Voting and Elections,” Download factsheets like “What Nonprofit Staff Can Do” Review other resources from the Alliance for Justice and IRS Nonpartisan

  21. RESOURCES ON BEING NONPARTISAN Nonpartisan

  22. VOTER REGISTRATION

  23. Two approaches to registration • Promote voter registration • Use your communications, events, classes to announce the voter registration deadline and where to register. • Conduct a voter registration activity • Set up a table in your lobby, do voter registration as part of services, trainings or events • Hold a voter registration event or drive Voter Registration

  24. Principles of voter registration • Always combine voter registration with another activity as many people are already registered or not eligible • Updating an address is just as important as registering for the first time • Even small numbers of registrations add up! Voter Registration

  25. VOTER REGISTRATION BASICS Voter Registration • Have a plan: Set realistic goals, timelines • Line up staffing: Identify committed volunteers and staff, and someone to be in charge • Know your state’s rules: • Deadlines • Getting and returning the forms

  26. When to do Voter Registration • Close to Deadline: The best time to do voter registration is in the two months leading up to the registration deadline (August – October) • Single Day: Single day events, like a graduation event, citizenship ceremony, open house, community meeting, etc. Voter Registration

  27. National Voter Registration Day • September 25th is National Voter Registration Day!

  28. National Voter Registration Day www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org

  29. VOTER REGISTRATION RESOURCES • Download the “Voter Registration Toolkit” • Order a Voter Registration Poster • Watch our last webinar on voter registration on YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/nonprofitvote Voter Registration

  30. VOTER REGISTRATION RESOURCES

  31. VOTER EDUCATION

  32. TWO TYPES OF VOTER EDUCATION Education on the process of voting: Inform clients and constituents of the date of the election, polling place hours, where to get help voting, early voting opportunities, etc. Education on the candidates and issues: Pass out nonpartisan voter guides or a sample ballot Voter Education

  33. PRINCIPLES OF VOTER EDUCATION Time education close to the election when people are paying attention Use communications to announce dates, deadlines or connect your issues with the election Use points of contact to pass out a voter information card or sample ballot to start conversations Highlight what’s on the ballot beyond the presidential race Voter Education

  34. WORKING WITH CANDIDATES

  35. Candidate Engagement Candidate Engagement Candidate Forums: Sponsor or co-sponsor a candidate forum on a local race Sharing Your Research:  Provide candidates your research or policy ideas.

  36. Candidate Engagement (cont) Candidate Engagement Candidate Appearances: Invite candidates for a local race(s) to attend a fall event Asking Questions: Prepare a candidate questionnaire or attend a candidate event to ask question

  37. Candidate ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES Candidate Engagement Download the “Guide to Hosting a Candidate Forum” Watch the online narrated training on hosting a candidate forum Watch our last webinar on hosting a candidate forum on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/nonprofitvote

  38. Candidate ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES Candidate Engagement

  39. BALLOT MEASURES

  40. BALLOT MEASURES Ballot Measures • Activity on ballot measures is lobbying. It’s influencing the passage or defeat of a law, bond measure or constitutional amendment – not the election or defeat of a candidate • 501c3 nonprofits may work for or against a ballot measure as a lobbying activity

  41. TWO APPROACHES BALLOT MEASURES Ballot Measures • Stay Neutral: Educate clients and constituents about measures on the ballot • Turn legalese into common sense language for community members • Translate ballot measures into other languages • Take a position • Advocate for or against a ballot measure up to within your normal lobbying limits

  42. BALLOT MEASURE RESOURCES Ballot Measures Download the ballot measure factsheet Watch our webinar “Laws on the Ballot: Taking a Stand on Ballot Measures” on our YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/nonprofitvote

  43. GET OUT THE VOTE AND ELECTION DAY

  44. LIKE JOINING THE GYM We like to say that registering to vote is like joining the gym. It’s an important first step, but you still have to show up! GOTV

  45. PRINCIPLES OF GET OUT THE VOTE Make it personal: Personal contact works best Create urgency around your issue or the impact of the election Raise the volume close to Election Day when people are most tuned in GOTV

  46. GET OUT THE VOTE GOTV Create visibility:  Make the election visible at your agency and in your communications Promote Early Voting:  Encourage people to vote early by mail or in person Promote Election Day voting: Contact constituents about voting on Election Day

  47. ON ELECTION DAY Election Day Give staff time off: To work at polls or do nonpartisan GOTV Become a poll worker:  Consider being a poll worker or a translator Ask if you voted:  Ask everyone if they voted or need help voting Celebrate Democracy: Make Election Day special. Have a party.

  48. YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IF… You made a plan, had a point person, and… • Got Engaged:  Did at least one activity in 4 main categories: Voter Reg, Candidate Ed, Voter Ed, GOTV • Increased voting:  The electorate looks more like your community • Built clout: Your election work strengthens your advocacy and services You Are Successful If…

  49. MORE RESOURCES www.nonprofitvote.org

  50. info@nonprofitvote.org 617.357.VOTE (8683) www.nonprofitvote.org Nonprofit VOTE 89 South Street Suite 203 Boston, MA 02111 Ashley Herad ashley@lano.org Julian Johannesen julian@nonprofitvote.org

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