Transcript Who’s Eligible - Nonprofit VOTE

VOTER
REGISTRATION
AND VOTER
EDUCATION FOR
NONPROFITS
September 9, 2010
Nonprofit VOTE
AGENDA ……………………………...
…………………..
• Overview of Nonprofit Voter Engagement
–Why voting?
–Why nonprofits?
• Staying Nonpartisan
• Voter Registration
• Voter Education
WHY VOTING?
…………………..……………………………..….
• Stronger, healthier communities
• Public policies that represent our
communities
• Clout for your organization
WHY VOTING?
…………………..……………………………..….
•Safe
•Easy
•Important
WHY
NONPROFITS?
…………………..……………………………..….
• 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
…………………..……………………………..….
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
…………………..……………………………..….
Nonprofit staff MAY
engage in partisan
political activities on
their own time, off the
clock.
VOTER
REGISTRATION
…………………..……………………………..….
Voter Registration:
One small step in
the larger cycle of
nonprofit voter
engagement
LIKE JOINING A GYM….
…there’s a
lot more
to do to
get in
shape.
VOTER
REGISTRATION
…………………..……………………………..….
Increasingly, as people are
registered by other sources,
nonprofits should focus their
efforts on voter education and
helping people vote (GOTV)
VOTER
REG: Step 1
…………………..……………………………..….
NOW is the
time:
Make Your
Action Plan!
Action Plan
…………………..……………………………..….
How will you approach voter
registration….from simply
promoting the deadlines to
registering voters at your
agency.
ACTION PLAN
…………………..……………………………..….
NOW is the time!
–What is the voter registration deadline
in your state?
–The month before the deadline is the
best time for communicating about
voter registration
–Remind people that they need
to re-register if they have moved
or changed their name
START WITH YOUR INNER CIRCLE
…………………..……………………………..….
• Board
• Staff
• Volunteers
TIER
1: COMMUNICATE
…………………..……………………………..….
Publicize and promote voter registration
deadlines and how/where-to’s in:
• Your website
• E-communications
• Printed newsletters
• Posters in your agency’s lobby
• Regular materials distributed to
clients, community members, staff,
board and volunteers
TIER 2: IN-AGENCY VOTER REG
…………………..……………………………..….
Where are your EXISTING key
points of contact with your
community and constituents?
TIER 2: IN-AGENCY VOTER REG
…………………..……………………………..….
Points of contact:
• At Intake
•Community Classes
•One-on-one outreach and services
•Community celebrations
IN-AGENCY
VOTER
REG
…………………..……………………………..….
Next, select a point
person to direct
your in-agency
voter registration
activities
IN-AGENCY
VOTER
REG
…………………..……………………………..….
Decide on your approach:
• Make forms available with
signage
•Train staff to conduct voter
registration and turn forms
in promptly
POINTS
OF CONTACT
…………………..……………………………..….
• Classes
• Intake
• Point of service
• Community events
VOTER
REGISTRATION
…………………..……………………………..….
Get to know the
voter registration
rules in your state
TRAIN
YOUR STAFF
…………………..……………………………..….
• On eligibility requirements in
your state
• How to fill out a form
• How to be nonpartisan
• Talking points specific to your
mission
VOTER EDUCATION
…………………..……………………………..….
Promote the when, where and
how of voting
VOTER EDUCATION
…………………..……………………………..….
• Knowledge About the Voting Process
• Confidence about Casting a Ballot
• Urgency and Importance
VOTER EDUCATION
…………………..……………………………..….
• When
– Election date, Deadline to
vote by mail or vote early,
Polling hours
• Where
– Polling places, Early voting
locations
• How
– How to vote absentee or early
in-person,
• Where to get help voting, ID
requirements
• Who and what is on the
ballot
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
…………………..……………………………..….
• 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
…………………..……………………………..….
• Sample Ballots
–A 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.
VOTER EDUCATION
…………………..……………………………..….
• Candidate Questionnaires and Voter
Guides
–Checkout our online guide “Nonprofits,
Voting and Elections” to learn about creating
your own questionnaires and guides
–Distribute questionnaires and guides from
other organizations like a nonprofit coalition
or local League of Women Voters
VOTER EDUCATION
…………………..……………………………..….
• Candidate Forums
–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
…………………..……………………………..….
• Candidate Forums
–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!
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 – Soon to be
available as a 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
Coming Soon
Links to voter guides and sample ballots (coming this month)