Transcript Who’s Eligible - Nonprofit VOTE

VOTER
EDUCATION
FOR NONPROFITS
September 23, 2010
Nonprofit VOTE
AGENDA
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• Overview of Nonprofit Voter Engagement
–Why voting?
–Why nonprofits?
• Staying nonpartisan
• Nonprofit voter education defined
• How to: Integrated voter education
tactics
WHY VOTING?
…………………..……………………………..….
• Stronger, healthier communities
• Public policies that represent our communities
• Increased access to decision-makers
• Improved chances of parity in social institutions
• Improved social and economic justice
• Capacity for your organization
• Clout for your organization
WHY VOTING?
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•Safe
•Easy
•Important
WHY
NONPROFITS?
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• Size of our sector
• Trust of our communities
• Access to underrepresented populations
• Social missions
• Interest in good government
• Nonpartisanship
YOU are the Trusted Voices in Your
Communities
EXPANDING
DEMOCRACY
…………………..……………………………..….
• What we know about
creating new voters
–Personal contact
–Repeat messages from
multiples sources
–Voting is a habit
STAYING
NONPARTISAN
…………………..……………………………..….
The IRS places only one
restriction (or opportunity) on
nonprofits doing voter
engagement work
STAYING
NONPARTISAN
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A 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization may NOT support
or oppose a candidate for
public office or a political party.
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 Registration
• Voter Education
• Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
WHAT
STAFF CAN DO
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Nonprofit staff MAY
engage in partisan
political activities on
their own time, off the
clock.
VOTER
EDUCATION
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Nonprofit Voter Education:
educating your communities
on the when, where, how and
why of voting.
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• Knowledge About the Voting Process
• Confidence about Casting a Ballot
• Urgency and Importance
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• When
–Election date
–Deadline to vote by
mail or vote early
– Polling hours
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• Where
–Polling places
–Early voting locations
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• How
–Eligibility
–Id requirements
–How to vote absentee or
early in-person
–Rides to the polls
–Election Day Registration
–Resources for help voting
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• Why
–What’s at stake?
–What’s on the ballot?
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• Consider:
–Where are your points
of contact?
–Your trusting
relationships
–High traffic areas
–Community events
VOTER
EDUCATION
…………………..……………………………..….
• Sample activities:
– Posters in your agency’s lobby
with election date and polling
place hours
– Distribute sample ballots and
voter guides
– Help people find their polling
place
VOTER
EDUCATION
…………………..……………………………..….
• Sample activities:
– Hold a mock election at your
nonprofit
– Teach voting vocabulary words
– Discuss the principles of a fair
democracy or fair election.
– Pass out voter registration
forms or sample ballots
– Cover specifics for your area
•
•
•
•
what races are on the ballot
how to vote
polling place locations
ballot initiatives.
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• Special Activities
–Make it a party: Hold a special event about
the election for one of your programs.
–Discuss the election with those who are not
citizens and ways they can participate as a
volunteer or helping others vote.
–Make sure ex- offenders understand
their right to vote.
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• Sample Ballots
–Sample ballots help voters feel more
comfortable with the process of voting and
have more confidence going to cast their
ballot. Print out copies and post them in your
lobby, or have a stack of them available in
waiting rooms and intake areas, bring them
to all points of contact and/or along
with handouts of printed materials.
VOTER
EDUCATION
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• Candidate Questionnaires and Voter
Guides
–Distribute nonpartisan questionnaires and
guides from other organizations like a
nonprofit coalition, local League of Women
Voters or local newspapers
VOTER/ CANDIDATE
EDUCATION
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• Candidate Forums
–Promote candidate forums in your area
–Checkout our “Nonprofits Guide to Hosting a
Candidate Forum”
–Co-host with other organizations
–Cover a broad range of issues
–Invite all viable candidates
–Confirm with candidates
–Turnout is EVERYTHING!
VOTER/ CANDIDATE
EDUCATION
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• Candidate Education
–Invite candidates to tour your agency and talk
with community members and get to know
the issues that your organization cares about.
BALLOT
INITIATIVES
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• Education your community about
initiatives that will appear on the ballot
–Nonprofits may work on behalf of or against
ballot initiatives as part of regular lobbying
activities.
Contact Us!
www.nonprofitvote.org
Bridgette Rongitsch
[email protected]
651-757-3085
Nonprofit VOTE