Transcript HOSTING A CANDIDATE FORUM

VOTER ENGAGEMENT BASICS
For Nonprofits
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 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 partners on our site at
www.nonprofitvote.org
About
Us
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Ashley Herad
Civic Engagement and
Policy Director
Louisiana Association of
Nonprofits Organizations
Julian Johannesen
Director of Research and Training
Nonprofit VOTE
Who
VOTE NOVEMBER
TH
6 !
Agenda
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
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
WHY NONPROFITS
• Trust and Respect in our
communities
• Access to
underrepresented
populations
• Interest in positive role of
government
Opportunity
2012
AGENDA

Getting Started

Being Nonpartisan

Voter Registration

Voter Education

Working with Candidates

Ballot Measures

Get Out The Vote and Election Day

Resources
Agenda
GETTING STARTED
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
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
• Who is your audience
– Staff and volunteers
– Clients and constituents
– People in your community
Get
Started
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
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
VOTING IN YOUR STATE
Get
Started
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
BEING
NONPARTISAN
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
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
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
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
Nonpartisan
and IRS
RESOURCES ON BEING NONPARTISAN
Nonpartisan
VOTER
REGISTRATION
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
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
VOTER REGISTRATION BASICS
• 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
Voter
Registration
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
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
• September 25th is
National Voter
Registration Day!
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org
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
VOTER REGISTRATION RESOURCES
VOTER EDUCATION
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
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
WORKING WITH
CANDIDATES
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT
• Candidate Forums: Sponsor or cosponsor a candidate forum on a
local race
• Sharing Your Research: Provide
candidates your research or policy
ideas.
Candidate
Engagement
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT (CONT)
• 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
Candidate
Engagement
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES
• 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
Candidate
Engagement
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES
Candidate
Engagement
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
Ballot
Measures
TWO APPROACHES 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
Ballot
Measures
BALLOT MEASURE RESOURCES
• 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
Ballot
Measures
GET OUT THE VOTE
AND ELECTION DAY
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
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
GET 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
ON 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.
Election
Day
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…
MORE RESOURCES
www.nonprofitvote.org
[email protected]
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE
89 South Street
Suite 203
Boston, MA 02111
Ashley Herad
[email protected]
Julian Johannesen
[email protected]