HOSTING A CANDIDATE FORUM
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Transcript HOSTING A CANDIDATE FORUM
WHAT NONPROFIT
STAFF CAN DO
in elections on and off the job
Presented by
ABOUT US
A national hub of voter engagement
resources and trainings to help nonprofits
integrate nonpartisan voter participation into
ongoing activities and services.
Find more about our mission and partners on our website:
www.nonprofitvote.org
About
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
George Pillsbury
Executive Director
Nonprofit VOTE
Julian Johannesen
Director of Research and Training
Nonprofit VOTE
Who
AGENDA
Voter Engagement at Work
Political Activity Outside of Work
Example Cases
Agenda
VOTER ENGAGEMENT
AT WORK
501(c)(3) Guidelines for Election Activity
Voter Registration
Voter Education
Candidate Engagement
Get Out The Vote
THE ONE RULE
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may not
support or oppose a candidate for public office.
May NOT –
• Make an endorsement
• Donate money or resources
• Rate candidates on your issue
AT
WORK
WHAT NONPROFITS CAN DO
Nonprofits may conduct nonpartisan
voter engagement activities designed
to help the public participate in
elections.
• Voter Registration
• Voter Education
• Candidate Forums
• Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
AT
WORK
1. VOTER REGISTRATION
• Promote voter registration
– Use your communications and events to
announce registration deadlines, where to
register.
• Conduct a voter registration activity
– Set up a table in your lobby, do voter
registration as part of services
– Hold a voter registration event or drive
May not suggest which party to join or
candidate to vote for.
AT
WORK
2. VOTER EDUCATION
• On the process of voting
– Date of the election, polling place
hours, what ID they need to vote, etc.
• On candidates and issues
– Nonpartisan voter guides or a sample
ballot
Voter guides must be balanced and can’t
compare your position with the candidates
AT
WORK
3. CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT
• Invite candidates to an event
• Sponsor a candidate forum
• Prepare a candidate questionnaire
• Send candidates your policy ideas
• Include all candidates (not all must
participate)
• Review nonpartisan guidelines on our
website- www.nonprofitvote.org
AT
WORK
4. GET OUT THE VOTE
• Create visibility: Make the
election visible at your agency
• Help people vote: Help people to
vote early; answer questions
• Get out the vote: Contact all your
constituents about voting
501(c)(3) nonprofits may not endorse
candidates. But we may endorse voting!
AT
WORK
5. BALLOT MEASURES
• 501c3 nonprofits may work for or
against a ballot measure as a lobbying
activity
• Activity on ballot measures is lobbying.
It’s influencing the passage or defeat of
a law– not the election of a candidate
AT
WORK
501c3 RESOURCES
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
OUTSIDE OF WORK
The Basic Guideline
What Nonprofit Staff Can Do
OUTSIDE
WORK
THE BASIC GUIDELINE
Nonprofit staff are free to engage
in partisan activities, such as
supporting a candidate, outside of
normal work hours – off the clock
OUTSIDE
WORK
WHAT TO AVOID
• Use nonprofit resources
including your time for partisan
political purposes
• Be partisan when representing
your nonprofit at or outside of
work
OUTSIDE
WORK
WHAT STAFF CAN DO
• What:
–
–
–
–
Volunteer on campaigns
Attend political events
Support your candidate
Run for office
• When:
–
–
–
–
Personal time outside work hours
On vacation
On personal days
On unpaid leave
OUTSIDE
WORK
EXAMPLES
Partisan Communications at Work
Using Your Nonprofit Resources
Communicating with Volunteers
Appearing at Events & Fundraisers
Going Public with Your Support
Running for Office
EXAMPLES
PARTISAN COMMUNICATIONS AT WORK
• Phone calls and emails
– Keeping it separate
– Incidental use ok
• Social media accounts
– Higher standards for
Executive Directors
EXAMPLES
USING YOUR NONPROFIT RESOURCES
501c3 nonprofits may not
use resources for partisan
purposes
• Public space (if available
to all)
• Reimbursed use of
phones, etc?
EXAMPLES
COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF &
VOLUNTEERS
• Volunteers
• Showing your colors
(Political attire, etc)
EXAMPLES
APPEARING AT EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS
• Guidelines for all staff
• Guidelines for
Executive Director
EXAMPLES
GOING PUBLIC WITH YOUR SUPPORT
• Being listed on Campaign
Literature/Websites
• Using an *asterix
EXAMPLES
RUNNING FOR OFFICE
• Keeping your campaign
outside your office
• Taking a leave of absence to
do more
EXAMPLES
RESOURCES
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more
available at www.nonprofitvote.org
Resources
www.nonprofitvote.org
MORE RESOURCES
Resources
[email protected]
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE
89 South Street
Suite 203
Boston, MA 02111
George Pillsbury
[email protected]
Julian Johannesen
[email protected]