Transcript HOSTING A CANDIDATE FORUM

PLAN AHEAD 2015:
BUILDING A VOTER ENGAGEMENT
TIMELINE FOR YOUR NONPROFIT
Presented by
ABOUT US
Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with
America's nonprofits to help the people they serve
participate and vote.
We are a leading source of nonpartisan training,
materials and other resources for nonprofits doing
voter engagement work.
Find out more about our mission and partners on our site at
www.nonprofitvote.org
About
Us
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Lindsey Hodel
Julian Johannesen
National Field Director
Nonprofit VOTE
Director of Research & Training
Nonprofit VOTE
Who
WHY VOTING MATTERS
• Our voices are not being heard
• Voter engagement and advocacy work go together
• Nonprofits have unique access and assets
• When we do this work, we are extremely effective!
Why This
Matters
OPPORTUNITY 2015
• Mayoral elections: More than 600 cities and towns
across the nation will hold mayoral elections
• Ballot questions: Hundreds of measures will appear
on the ballot this year
• Increased impact in off year elections
• The importance of local elections to nonprofits
Opportunity
MAKING A PLAN
STEP ONE: ESTABLISH BUY IN
• Establish Buy-In: Get buy-in
from your …
– Executive Director and senior
staff
– Participating staff
• Designate a Staff Lead:
Choose a staff lead, someone
who will be the point person
for your voter engagement
work.
Step 1
STEP TWO: TARGET ACTIVITIES
Face to face and one on one interactions are proven
to be the most effective ways to influence clients
• Engaging your staff
• Programs and points of contact: At your agency, at
events, or in your neighborhood
• Services or classes to target
• Special programs or events: A graduation, a
community festival, a citizenship ceremony, etc.
Step 2
STEP THREE: SETTING GOALS
• Set ambitious but achievable
goals
– How many of your staff and
volunteers will be involved?
– How many individuals can you
reach?
– What new capacities, skills and
knowledge can your
organization gain?
– What new election related
activities can you participate
in?
Step 3
STEP FOUR: LEARN THE VOTING RULES
• Learn about voting in your state
– Nonprofit VOTE’s Voting in Your State Tool:
www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-in-your-state/
– Reach out to your local elections officials
• Review nonpartisan guidelines
– Nonprofit VOTE’s online guide to c3 rules:
www.nonprofitvote.org/nonprofits-votingelections-online/
Step 4
STEP FIVE: STAFF UP AND TRAIN
• Identify staff and volunteers
who will be involved
• Get riled up! Provide a
rationale for the work
• Initial training: Make sure
they have the skills they need.
• Ongoing training and support:
Periodically review with staff
what they need to know,
provide materials and
resources
Step 5
STEP SIX: FIND PARTNERS
• Find allies: a non-partisan
group doing voter
engagement work, an
advocacy partner or a voter
engagement training partner
• Meet with your local election
office
• Consider opportunities:
around ballot measures,
candidate forums or GOTV
activities.
Step 6
VOTER ENGAGEMENT
TACTICS

Voter Registration

Ballot Measure Advocacy

Candidate Engagement

Voter Education

Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
Tactics
VOTER REGISTRATION
STARTING VOTER REG
• When: For the Nov. election
start in July or Aug. Ramp
up your activities as you
near the deadline.
• Conduct a pilot of your
registration efforts
• Keep in mind:
– Some are already registered
– Updating an address or name
is just as important as
registering for the first time
Voter
Reg
KNOW YOUR DEADLINE
Voter
Reg
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
• September 22nd is
National Voter
Registration Day!
– www.nationalvoterregis
trationday.org/
– www.celebratenvrd.org
NVRD!
Voter
Reg
BALLOT MEASURES AND
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT
BALLOT MEASURES
• Do Voter Education Only:
Provide nonpartisan voter
education on ballot measures
OR
• Make an Endorsement: Take a
position for or against a ballot
measure
Ballot
Measures
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT
• Candidate Forums: Sponsor or cosponsor a candidate forum on a
local race – 1-3 months before
• Candidate Appearances: Invite
candidates from a local race(s) to
attend a fall event – 1-3 months before
• Share Your Research: Provide
candidates your research or policy
ideas – After primary
Candidate
Engagement
VOTER EDUCATION &
GET OUT THE VOTE
VOTER EDUCATION
• What’s on the ballot: Sample
ballots and voter guides
• How to vote: Pass on information
about how to vote or get help
voting
– Ways to vote
– Polling place information
– ID requirements
Voter
Education
GETTING OUT THE VOTE
• 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
GOTV
ELECTION DAY
• Make Election Day a special, celebratory day!
• Reminders to vote in the last few days are effective
• Time off for staff
Election
Day
RESOURCES
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more
available at www.nonprofitvote.org
Resources
RESOURCES
Resources
[email protected]
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE
89 South Street
Suite 203
Boston, MA 02111
Lindsey Hodel
[email protected]
Julian Johannesen
[email protected]