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Prepared by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism for:Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Jewish Council for Public AffairsUnion of American Hebrew CongregationsUnion of Orthodox Jewish Congregations

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

2000Get Out The Vote

Program Plan andAction Manual

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation1299 Church Road • Wynecote, PA 19095(215)887-1988 • www.jrf.org

Jewish Council for Public Affairs443 Park Avenue South • New York, NY 10016-7322(212)684-6950 • www.jewishpublicaffairs.org

Union of American Hebrew Congregations633 Third Avenue • New York, NY 10017(202)387-2800 • www.uahc.org

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations11 Broadway • New York, NY 10004(212)563-4000 • www.ou.org

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism155 Fifth Avenue • New York, NY 10010(212)533-7800 • www.uscj.org

Prepared by:Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism2027 Massachusetts Avenue, NW(202)387-2800www.rac.org

We gratefully acknowledge the work of the Synagogue Council of America and Irving I. Silverman, in particular, for the pioneering work they did in raising thisimportant issue to the forefront of the Jewish community. While the SynagogueCouncil is no longer in existence, it produced the 1992 and 1988 Get Out The VoteManuals, upon which significant portions of this document were based.

The 2000 Get Out The Vote Program Plan and Action Manual was produced joint-ly by the Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Orthodox Movements andJewish Council for Public Affairs. In particular, I would like to acknowledge thework of Reva Price, Washington Representative of the Jewish Council for PublicAffairs; Josh Sussman, Associate Director of the Institute of Public Affairs of theOrthodox Union; and Josh Noble, Legislative Assistant at the Religious ActionCenter of Reform Judaism. Each of them made important contributions to the con-cept and the text of this booklet.

Rabbi Marc IsraelDirector of Congregational RelationsReligious Action Center of Reform JudaismEditor, 2000 Get Out The Vote Program Plan and Action Manual

September 2000

Dear Members of the American Jewish Community:

As Americans, we possess one of the most precious rights that humans have – the right to vote. In the histo-ry of the Jewish peoples’ 2,000 year exile, our community has rarely been blessed with this gift of civicresponsibility. Therefore, we must work together, Republicans and Democrats, Orthodox, Conservative,Reconstructionist and Reform Jews – to encourage all members of our community and the general public tovote in the coming elections.

For much of the past century, American Jews have voted in numbers unmatched by almost any other group.Unfortunately, over the last number of years, Jewish voter registration has dropped and Jewish communal vot-ing patterns have declined.

As Rabbi Yitzhak taught “ A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted.” (B. Talmud, Berachot 55a). In today’s world, the avenue to voice our approval for our leaders is through voting.

We write to you to endorse this Jewish communal effort to organize voter registration drives and “Get Outthe Vote” campaigns in local communities and to encourage you to get involved. As mentioned above, recentstudies show a decrease in voter registration and voting in the Jewish community. This decrease is most preva-lent among newly enfranchised voters (ages 18 to 25) and among senior citizens who may find it difficult toaccess polling places. It is incumbent upon communal leaders to stem this tide of apathy among our youngand to make polling places or absentee ballots easily accessible to senior citizens and to those with disabilities.

As election day quickly approaches, we hope that you will consult this manual and other resources to buildeffective programs in order to increase voter registration and institute “Get Out the Vote” drives in your localcommunities – drives aimed at the general American electorate as well as our own community. Every votedoes count – let’s ensure that the Jewish community is heard on the great issues facing our nation.

Sincerely,

Senator Frank Lautenberg Senator Arlen Specter

United states senateWAHINGTON, D.C. 20510

I. WHY AMERICAN JEWS MUST VOTE 4A. Jewish Tradition 4B. Why Americans Don’t Vote 4C. Everything You Need Is In This Manual 5

II. VOTER REGISTRATION 5Encouraging Participation 6A. New Members 6B. College Students 6

III. GET OUT THE VOTE 5A. Timeline 7B. Focus on: Senior Citizens 7C. Focus on: The Disabled 7D. Absentee Ballot 7E. Post Card Follow-Up 8

IV. NON-PROFITS RULES 5Voter Registration and 501(c)(3) Organizations 8Endorsements 9Candidate Forums 9Candidate Appearences at Events Other Than Forums or Debates 10Candidate Questionnaires 10Other Resources 10

V. APPENDIXES 11Appendix A: Sample Letter To Members Announcing Voter

Registration Campaign 11Appendix B: Sample Letter To College Students 12Appendix C: Sample Bulletin Article 13Appendix D: Sample Flyers 14Appendix E: Response Form 15Appendix F: National Mail-In Voter Registration Rules 15Appendix G: National Mail-In Voter Registration Form 16Appendix H: Sermons 17Appendix I: State by State Information 18

Table of Contents

I. WHY AMERICAN JEWSMUST VOTE

A crucial election, the first of the new century, is onlymonths away. At stake are vital political, economic and moralissues of concern to all Americans, in addition to issues ofspecial concern to us as American Jews.

During the next four years, there are likely to be importantdebates about the way our government does business.Legislation on significant issues such as Medicare, Medicaid,Foreign Aid, Social Security, Debt Relief, Gun Control,Privacy, and support for the Middle East Peace Process is like-ly to be considered by the next Congress and Administration.In addition, over the next four years the President will appointand the Senate will confirm numerous judges, which is likelyto include two or more Supreme Court Justices.

American Jews are concentrated in the most populous statesand, when activated, can make a real difference in a nationalelection. Ninety percent of the Jewish population resides inthe 13 states with substantial electoral college leverage:Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,Pennsylvania and Texas. These states collectively have 272electoral votes, more than 50% of the amount needed to electa President. In the past, Jews have frequently been a “swingvote” in deciding national, state and local elections whenissues of direct concern have affected us.

American Jews have traditionally voted in significantlyhigher proportions than the general public, both in general andoff-year elections. This has made a decided difference. It hascontributed to a strengthening of Jewish identity within thecontext of the general American polity and citizenship. It hasalso assured continuity of the special relationship between theUnited States and Israel from every president since HarryTruman. While Jews continue to vote in higher proportionsthan the general population, these numbers are not as strongas they once were. This is especially true for the 18-35 agebracket.

With the stakes so high, we must work to revoke this trend.

A. Jewish Tradition

The Sage Hillel taught “Al tifros min hatzibur, Do not sepa-rate yourself from the community.” (Pirke Avot 2:5) Moreover,it is our responsibility to play an active role in our communityand choosing its leaders. Rabbi Yitzhak taught that “A ruler isnot to be appointed unless the community is first consulted” (B.Talmud Berachot 55a). He explained that in the Torah, Bezalelcould be chosen to build the Tabernacle only with the commu-nity’s approval. Today, the method for us to voice our concernsand register our approval is through the electoral process.

B. Why Americans Don’t Vote

To understand why many Jews are not registering to vote orgoing to the polls, it is necessary to consider why too manyAmerican citizens do not fulfill their civic responsibility.America has the lowest percentage of its citizens who are reg-istered, and who actually vote, of any democracy in the world.

Traditionally, the right to vote has been regarded as the cor-nerstone of our democracy and a cherished liberty. Our sys-tem of representative government is predicated upon the activeparticipation of all of our citizens.

Yet only three-quarters of America’s eligible voters are actu-ally registered and less than half actually vote. This stagger-ingly low percentage has both procedural and philosophicalcauses.

1. Registrants are taken off active rolls if they move ordo not vote in at least one general, primary or specialelection in four years. (In some states, it’s two years.)

2. Some citizens refuse to register because they mistak-enly believe that if they are not registered, they will not becalled for jury duty. In fact, names for jury duty aredrawn from numerous other lists, including motor vehiclelists, those who have telephone or electric service, assess-ment lists, and state and local taxpayers.

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Get Out The Vote 2000

3. Many citizens believe they are denied access to poli-tics and even question the usefulness of voting becausethey believe the system is spiraling out of control. Oftencitizens and public officials have a distant relationshipbased on mistrust and the fear of self-interest. Some citi-zens believe that politics is larger than the individual whohas no voice to shape policy.1

C. Everything You Need Is In This Manual

The 2000 Get Out the Vote Program Plan and ActionManual includes state-by-state registration deadlines, ques-tions to ask local registration boards, and materials to explainhow to use the new National Mail-In Voter Registration Form.In addition, you will find an explanation of the legal issues fornon-profit 501(c)(3) organizations when getting involved invoter registration and education activities. At the end, thereare ready-to-use materials such as sample sermons, bulletinarticles, and letters to college students.

This Manual also aims to demystify the registration process,to focus communal energy on the privilege and responsibility ofvoting, and to provide information to plan a successful “GetOut the Vote” effort on Election Day. It is designed for use byJewish congregations and communal organizations to conducttheir own voter registration drive. However, you should alsoencourage the leaders and members of your institution to getinvolved with voter registration drives in the general communi-ty. To get involved, contact your local League of Women Votersor other non-profit, non-partisan voter registration organiza-tions in your community. The exact same procedures and mate-rials that are suggested here for use in the Jewish communitycan be adapted for use in voter registration activities in the gen-eral community.

1 “Citizens and Politics: A View From Main Street America.” A study pre-pared by the Harwood Group for the Kettering Foundation. 1995.

II. VOTER REGISTRATION

Organizing a voter registration drive in your communityneed not be complicated or time-consuming. The key to anysuccessful voter registration drive is accurate, easy to useinformation. Since passage of the “Motor Voter” bills, largeportions of the population who had never registered are nowregistered to vote. However, there are still members of ourcommunity who are not registered. This is especially trueamong senior citizens and shut-ins who may not have had theopportunity to register and who often are not licensed drivers.Other individuals in your community who may not be regis-tered are college students and individuals who have recentlymoved. It is imperative that we strive to get every eligible cit-izen registered to vote.

Currently all states except New Hampshire, North Dakota,Wisconsin and Wyoming accept the National Mail-In VoterRegistration Form, which is available from your state or localBoard of Election (See Appendix I). Another convenient wayto access the National Mail-In Voter Registration Form is onthe World Wide Web at http://beavoter.org. Through this site,you can register on-line in a matter of minutes.

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Encouraging Participation

Begin the registration drive by sending a letter to yourmembers explaining the problem of falling voter participationnumbers and encourage them to register and to vote. Includea copy of the National Mail-In Voter Registration Form (seeAppendix G) in the mailing along with the relevant rules foryour state (see Appendix F).

Choose an event or service (or a number of them) when alarge number of members will be together (Selichot, HighHoliday ticket pick-up, first day of Hebrew school, etc.) andarrange to have a table set-up with voter registration formsand additional information. Have the table staffed by knowl-edgeable members who can assist people in completing theforms. Additional mechanisms to publicize the voter registra-tion drive are synagogue bulletins and newsletters (seeAppendix C), well-placed posters and flyers (see samples,Appendix D.) and sermons from the bimah (see Appendix H).While registering to vote is important, it is also vital that wedo not lose sight of the ultimate goal – to increase voterturnout on Election Day.

A. New Members

Congregations should get in the habit of regularly includingvoter registration forms in their new member packets. Not onlyis this a convenience that the congregation can provide its mem-bers, but it is also a way to send a messages that the synagoguesees itself as not just a Beit Tefillah (house of prayer) but as aBeit Knesset (community place). This simple procedure canreap benefits for the synagogue, the individuals, and the commu-nity.

B. College Students

Similarly, congregations can include voter registrationmaterial and information about absentee ballots in mailings totheir graduating seniors and in High Holiday packets that theysend to their college students.

Every synagogue and youth organization should set a pro-gram to ensure that all children who turn 18 are registered tovote. On their 18th birthday, members should receive a packetthat includes registration material and, if possible, should becontacted by phone a few weeks later to be sure they havefilled out the forms and mailed them in.

While students are more likely to vote if they register wherethey are in school, many students prefer to register in theirhome community. Therefore, it is worthwhile to include boththe National Mail-In Voter Registration Form and the absenteeballot regulations (available from your local election commis-sion. See Appendix I).

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III. GET OUT THE VOTE

A. Timeline

SEPTEMBER• Back to School/Synagogue Open Houses—Have VoterRegistration Table and forms for people to fill out.• Place ad/article in Synagogue Bulletin reminding people toregister to vote.• Sermon from rabbi on importance of registering to vote andcivic participation.• Letter sent to college students with voter registration infor-mation (see Appendix B).• Selichot Services (September 23) Final Voter Registrationpush.

OCTOBER• Put ad in bulletin reminding people to vote on November 7.• Send letter to home-bound members and members living innursing homes with information about absentee ballots.• Visit home-bound members and members living in nursinghomes to assist in filling out forms to request absentee ballots.• Find out who needs rides and who is available to drive peo-ple to the polls on November 7.• Hold Candidate Forums at synagogue or other location.• Sermon from rabbi on important issues for the Jewishcommunity in the November election and the importance ofcivic participation.

NOVEMBER• Send out postcards and/or make phone calls to entire mem-bership list reminding them to vote.

B. Focus on: Senior Citizens

Jewish demography indicates that many Jewish citizens whoare above the age of sixty will be voting in a new city or state thisyear. Registration drives should reach out to retirement commu-nities with high Jewish populations in order to orient senior citi-zens to voting requirements in their new communities. In moststates, you simply need to make copies of the National Mail-InVoter Registration Form (see Appendix G) and set up tables out-side the dining hall in these residences.

It is also crucial to penetrate segments of the communitythat are usually neglected, including Jews in hospitals, nursinghomes, and rehabilitation centers. This campaign would makethe registration experience as easy and convenient as possible,especially for the elderly, who may find it difficult to travel orto read the small print on required forms. In addition, provid-ing information about absentee ballots and ensuring these sen-iors are able to fill out such ballots is critically important.(For information on your state’s absentee ballot regulations,contact your local Board of Elections. See Appendix I).

C. Focus on: The Disabled

There is a large constituency of sight-impaired, hearing-impaired, and wheelchair-bound individuals who would gladlyadd their voice during the voting process if only it were madeeasier for them.

By reaching out to the disabled and communicating throughnewsletters and announcements that their special needs will berecognized and attended to by trained volunteers, you can per-form an important mitzvah. Special arrangements mayinclude the use of designated vans, changing their pollinglocation to one that is more accessible, and curbside registra-tion and/or voting. Contact your local election commission tofind out what alternatives are available in your community.

D. Absentee Ballot

In order to qualify for an absentee ballot you must meetone of the qualifications listed below:

1. Be absent on Election Day from the county inwhich you are registered;

2. Be unable to go to the polling place on ElectionDay because of accident, illness, or physical disability;

3. Be prevented from going to the polling place onElection Day because of confinement in or restriction toan institution;

4. Be unable to go to the polling place on ElectionDay because of death or serious illness in your immedi-ate family;

5. Be a full-time student at an institution of highereducation located outside your precinct but within the

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county of registration, and academic requirements pre-vent you from going to the polling place on ElectionDay;

6. Be absent from the precinct in which you are regis-tered to vote on election day because of employment byor service as an official of the State Board or a countyboard of elections, or

7. Be 65 years of age or older and your polling placeis not accessible.

The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) must be filledout and returned to your local election official at least 30 daysbefore the election. It is available by contacting your stateBoard of Elections (Appendix I) or on-line athttp://www.fvap.ncr.gov/othertools/onlinefpca.htm. The formis in Adobe Acrobat format (which can be downloaded, ifneeded, at www.adobe.com) and can be filled out on-line,printed out, signed, dated, placed in an envelope with properpostage and mailed to the appropriate local election office.This application must reach the local election official at least30 days before the election or by October 7th. Additionaldetail, of state-by-state instructions are available on-line at theabove-mentioned website. All states and the District ofColumbia accept this online form with the following excep-tions: Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts,Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, and Tennessee.

E. Post Card Follow-Up

Dear Friend,Federal elections will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2000.

At stake are numerous local state and federal elections.Please be sure to cast your ballot.

[IF YOUR SYNAGOGUE OR ORGANIZATION IS PRO-VIDING TRANSPORTATION ADD: If you need a ride tothe polls, please contact our office to make arrangements.]

The polls will be open from [INSERT HOURS]. The polllocations in our area are [INSERT POLL LOCATIONS, IFPOSSIBLE].

As a Jew and American it is your civic responsibility tovote. One vote can make a difference.

Thank you

IV. NON-PROFITS RULES

As we are all aware, non-profit organizations are prohibitedfrom supporting or opposing candidates for office and inter-vening or participating in political campaigns. Section501(c)(3) of the IRS Code denies tax exemption to organiza-tions that directly or indirectly support or oppose candidatesfor public office, at any level. This prohibition – an absoluteban – applies to both primary and general elections.However, involvement in non-partisan voter registration,education, and “get out the vote” campaigns will not in anyway jeopardize your 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

Below are general guidelines that you may find useful inplanning election-year activities such as candidate forums andcandidate questionnaires. Should you decide to sponsor elec-tion-related activities such as candidate forums, you areencouraged to take a few minutes to consult with your localBoard of Elections office (Appendix I).

Voter Registration and 501(c)(3)Organizations

Non-profit organizations are permitted to engage in voterregistration and Get Out The Vote efforts.

Common sense ought to be taken that the targets (e.g. themembership of the 501(c)(3), residents of a community, etc.)are chosen for reasons other than that they are likely to votefor particular candidates. These efforts cannot be a subterfugeto aiding a candidate, but must be a genuine non-partisanvoter registration effort.

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Endorsements

Among many other restrictions, Section 501(c)(3) prohibitstax-exempt non-profits from explicitly or implicitly endorsingor opposing any candidate or political party. This means nei-ther the synagogue/organization nor someone in a capacity ofrepresenting the synagogue/organization may do so. Examplesof implicit endorsements might include training volunteers towork on a particular or select group of campaigns, and accept-ing financing from campaigns or political parties to defraycosts associated with 501(c)(3)-sponsored events. Allowingyour facility to be used for a campaign event, even if a rentalfee is paid, may be construed as implicit endorsement.

Candidate Forums

The Internal Revenue Service has held that a 501(c)(3)organization may invite candidates to a public forum for thepurpose of public education without jeopardizing its tax-exempt status, so long as the organization takes appropriatesteps to ensure fair and impartial treatment of candidates.

The IRS, in assessing a forum, will look at the total picture.No one factor is determinative, but the following circum-stances may serve as guidelines:

• choosing a location for the forum that does notreflect political considerations;

• assembling a non-partisan and independent panel ofknowledgeable persons to prepare and present unbiasedquestions for forum participants;

• designing procedures for raising questions thatwould show no bias or preference for or against a particu-lar candidate;

• allowing each candidate an equal opportunity topresent his or her views;

• selecting a moderator who does not function as aspokesperson for the sponsoring organization’s views, butserves solely to ensure that the rules of the event are observed;

• stating clearly that the views expressed are those ofthe candidates and not those of the organization, that theorganization’s sponsorship of the event is not intended asan endorsement of any candidate, and that all of the can-didates who met objective, reasonable criteria were invit-ed to participate; and,

• preparing a forum agenda that covers a broad rangeof issues.

The IRS has said (in a 1986 ruling) that “all legally-quali-fied candidates” must be invited to participate in candidateforums and debates. However, such all-inclusive participationis not an absolute requirement. Under certain circumstances,a 501(c)(3) may exclude particular candidates from a forum, ifthey fail to meet reasonable, objective criteria established bythe 501(c)(3) organization for participation in the event.

The crucial factor in this regard is that 501(c)(3) organi-zations must develop reasonable, objective criteria for par-ticipation in candidate forums, such criteria must bedesigned to further the educational purposes of the event,and may not reflect any bias for or against particularviews, beliefs, or candidates. These criteria must be estab-lished PRIOR to planning the event. Such criteria may callfor the exclusion of candidates deemed to lack viabilitybecause of their negligible visibility, name recognition, andsupport among the electorate, on the grounds that includ-ing such “fringe” candidates would hinder, rather thanenhance, the educational value of the event, by limitingthoughtful exchange among the various viable candidates.

A candidate may only be excluded from a forum ifhe/she fails to meet such pre-determined objective criteria.In every case, the sponsoring organization must demon-strate that the candidate is not being excluded because ofhis/her opinions, beliefs, or party affiliation.

It should be strongly emphasized that exclusions must becarefully considered, in order to avoid any appearance of view-point-based bias, which could lead to the conclusion that a501(c)(3) is impermissibly intervening with or attempting toinfluence the outcome of a campaign. Selective representation,particularly during the heat of a campaign, might present a riskthat would justify re-examining the advisability of the congre-

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gation or organization holding such a forum. In addition to thelegal issues, there are public relations concerns to consider aswell. By excluding candidates you may be creating a contro-versy that might distract from the impact of the event. Allthese factors should be considered in planning a forum.

For example, Jewish community relations agencies, asinstrumentalities of the Jewish community, have a right andindeed an obligation publicly to expose individuals or groupswho foster anti-Semitism. With respect to invitations to partic-ipate in candidate forums, no Jewish agency has an obligationto provide a platform to an anti-Semite or to an extremist advo-cating violence. However, if the person in question otherwisemeets the criteria for inclusion in the forum, the organizationwill have to choose between either inviting the candidate, asnoxious as his/her beliefs may be, or not holding the forum.

Candidate Appearances at Events Other Than Forums

or Debates

As noted by attorney Milton Cerny in an article discussingpolitical activity by non-profit organizations, “Except forforums that strictly follow [the] guidelines [listed above],charities run substantial risks if they sponsor any appearancesby people who are current electoral candidates.”2 In general,during the election season, it would be improper for 501(c)(3)organizations to sponsor non-forum events that feature a sin-gle candidate for public office, or merely a select group ofcandidates. Should you wish to involve a candidate in an eventother than a candidate forum conducted according to appropri-ate guidelines, please consult with your national organization’sstaff and your synagogue/organization’s counsel.

Candidate Questionnaires

Among the more difficult issues Jewish professionals faceduring the election season are those concerning the distribu-tion of questionnaires to candidates and the dissemination ofthe data gleaned from the responses to the questionnaires.Please consult your national organization’s staff and localcounsel prior to sending such questionnaires to candidates.

In evaluating a questionnaire, its content is of paramountimportance. Scenarios developed by the IRS demonstrate thattwo factors are of greatest significance: neutrality andbreadth of focus. It would be permissible to circulate anentirely neutral compilation of candidates’ positions on abroad variety of issues, developed from a questionnairemailed to all candidates. Any questionnaire evincing a bias oncertain issues or in favor of certain candidate(s) would behighly problematic. The questionnaire should not be undulyfocused on a narrow set of issues that correlates directly to theagency’s positions or areas of interest. Care must be taken inthe preparation of a questionnaire, particularly in light of thefact that the public-affairs agenda of many CRCs, synagoguesand national agencies has become very broad.

Other resources

Other suggested sources of information on election-year501(c)(3) restrictions include:

• Face to Face: A Guide to Candidate Debates, pro-duced by the League of Women Voters3

• The Rules of the Game: An Election Year Guide forNonprofit Organizations, by Gregory L. Colvin and Lowell Finley, published by theAlliance for Justice, may be ordered on their web site, atwww.afj.org.

2 Milton Cerny, law firm of Caplin & Drysdale, “Current IssuesInvolving Lobbying and Political Activities as they Affect Tax ExemptOrganizations,” 98 Tax Notes Today 130-11, July 8, 1998.

3 www.lwv.org/elibrary/pub/face/face_11.html

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V. APPENDIXES

Appendix A: Sample Letter ToMembers Announcing Voter

Registration Campagn

Dear Member,One of the most important rights that we have as Americans

is the right to vote. It is a right that we must not take forgranted; a right that is doubly precious because it has beenours so rarely in Jewish history.

For the past eighty years, American Jews have voted inoverwhelming numbers. Historically, around 90% of all eligi-ble Jews actually voted. This magnified our role in Americanpolitical life. We were able to protect our interests and todefend the rights of all Americans because we cared enough toparticipate in the democratic process.

Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. There are close to one million eligible Jews not registered to vote. Our [CONGREGATION/ORGANIZATION] has joined anationwide effort to reverse this trend.

As part of the national campaign, our [CONGREGA-TION/ORGANIZATION] is initiating a voter registrationdrive. Our main goal is to provide you with information onwhere, when and how to register and vote. [TOWARD THATEND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL VOTER REG-ISTRATION COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY XXX.] We areconfident that members are civically aware and will act on theinformation provided. We are available to be of assistance toyou in whatever way we can.

[CHOOSE THE ONE OPTION BELOW THAT APPLIESTO YOUR STATE]

OPTION ONE: FOR STATES WITH MAIL-IN REGIS-TRATION WHERE FORMS CAN BE PROVIDED BYTHE SYNAGOGUE AND/OR YOUR ORGANIZATION4

I am enclosing four voter registration forms for your house-hold. You can complete the forms at home and mail them into the registrar of voters in the pre-addressed envelope provid-ed [OR GIVE ADDRESS IF NECESSARY]. If you are notregistered, or in doubt as to whether you are registered, please

take the time today to register. Additional forms are availableat our office, and we will be pleased to mail extra forms toyou. You must register by [INSERT DATE] to be eligible tovote in the upcoming election.

OPTION TWO: FOR STATES WITH “MOTORVOTER” REGISTRATION5

Registration forms can be obtained at driver’s license bureausor public assistance agencies. In order to register, you will needto go to these agencies. You must register by [INSERT DATE]to be eligible to vote in the upcoming election.

OPTION THREE: FOR STATES WITH MAIL-INREGISTRATION WHERE FORMS MUST BEREQUESTED BY INDIVIDUALS6

Registration forms may be obtained by calling the Board ofElections at [LIST PHONE NUMBER], or at [LIST LOCA-TIONS]. These forms can be returned by mail to [LISTADDRESS]. You must register by [INSERT DATE] to be eligi-ble to vote in the upcoming election.

OPTION FOUR: FOR STATES WITH SAME DAYREGISTRATION7

Our state allows for “same day” registration, meaning youcan both register and vote on Election Day. [NOTE ANYEXCEPTIONS HERE.] In order to register, you will need[LIST REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR STATE, E.G. BIRTHCERTIFICATE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD].

4 All states but North Dakota and Wyoming. Illinois and Mississippi willonly accept the NVRF for federal elections, and New Hampshire and Vermontwill only accept their own city-clerk’s mail-in form.

5 All states but Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Idaho, New Hampshire,Vermont and North Dakota.

6 New Hampshire and Vermont

7 Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Idaho, and New Hampshire

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If you have moved since you last voted or if you have notvoted in the last four years, your name has been removed fromthe voter rolls. If you aren’t sure whether or not you are regis-tered, please contact the office and we will help you determineyour status [OR LIST THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE THEYCAN CALL TO DETERMINE THEIR STATUS].

Additionally, experts agree that a disproportionate numberof unregistered Jews are of college age. Therefore, it isimportant to encourage your children age 18 and above to reg-ister and vote. I am planning to send a letter on voter registra-tion to members’ children who are away at college or graduateschool. Please supply the office with the addresses of yourcollege age children, if we do not already have them.

Finally, if you plan to be out of town on Election Day, youmay request an absentee ballot in advance from your localBoard of Elections [GIVE ADDRESS AND HOURS]. Thedeadline for filing absentee ballot applications is [SUPPLYDEADLINE DATE]. [IF ABSENTEE APPLICATIONFORMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ATHIRD PARTY IN YOUR STATE ADD: You may also obtainan application from the synagogue/organization.]

Again, the registration deadline is [date], so please registeras soon as you can. Participating in the democratic process isa privilege and responsibility we all share. Please be sure toregister and vote on Election Day.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Voter Registration Committee, Rabbi or President

Appendix B: Sample Letter ToCollege Students

Dear Student,I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to urge you

to register and vote in the upcoming election and to provideyou with some information on voting procedures and options.

The right to vote is a new one for you. It is also, in thescheme of things, a new and unusual right for us as a people;doubly precious to us as American Jews since in other landswe have historically been disenfranchised and disempowered.For a variety of reasons, including a high level of education,civic pride, belief in democracy, and gratitude for the right offull participation in American national life, American Jewshave exercised their right to vote enthusiastically and in per-centages far greater than the national average. In recent years,however, Jewish voting rates have dropped to an average of50-70% down from a high of 90%. Close to a million Jews inthis country are not registered to vote. Younger Jews, particu-larly those of college age, make up a disproportionately largepercentage of those Jews who fail to register and vote.

In general, voter registration and turnout among those ofcollege age is notoriously low. Being new to the habit of vot-ing plays a role in this, as does the fact that college studentstend not to be permanently rooted in the communities wherethey live. And of course, people of all ages fail to vote out ofindifference, laziness, or a vague belief – the more widelyheld, the more dangerous – that one vote does not make a dif-ference.

But voting does make a difference. Politicians and thesocial policies they create decide life-and-death issues: Whogoes hungry and who is fed? Who is homeless and who hasshelter? Who guards our planet and subjects it to risk? Whomakes war and who makes peace? Elected officials willdevelop policies helpful or hurtful to Israel; they can be influ-ential in abandoning endangered Jews around the globe or insaving them. Our elected officials shape policy that affects usand should affect our Jewish sensibility. Your vote shapes andaffects government. The process of registering and voting isfairly simple. [INSERT OPTION 1 OR 2 HERE]

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OPTION 1: IF YOUR STATE ALLOWSPHOTOCOPIED MAIL-IN REGISTRATION8

Enclosed you will find a mail-in voter registration form.All you need to do is fill it out and mail it in the enclosedaddressed envelope. You may use your college or homeaddress.

OPTION 2: IF YOUR STATE DOESN’T ALLOW PHO-TOCOPIED MAIL-IN REGISTRATION 9

If you plan to vote in your college community, call yourlocal town hall or Board of Elections and learn how to regis-ter. Register now, while you are thinking of it. Registrationdeadlines can be as much as 30 days in advance of the elec-tion. Find out where your polling place is and be sure to voteon Election Day. You must register if you have never regis-tered before or if you have not voted in the last four years. Ifyou have moved since the last election, you must re-register,since a change of address is cause for purging your name fromthe active voter list. If you move to a different dormitory orapartment each September, you will need to re-register for allfour years of college. All you need to do is go to http://beavoter.org and follow the online instructions.

If you plan to vote in your hometown, you will need to reg-ister when you are home and will probably need to vote byabsentee ballot. [INSERT DETAILS ON HOW IN YOURCOMMUNITY].

OPTION 1: ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONENCLOSED

An absentee ballot application is enclosed. Please fill it outand mail it today. The deadline for filing the application is[INSERT DATE]. The ballot you will receive in the mail isdue on [INSERT DATE].

OPTION 2: NO APPLICATION ENCLOSEDYou can obtain an absentee ballot application from the coun-

ty Board of Elections located at [INSERT LOCATION]. Thedeadline for mailing the application is [INSERT DATE]. Theballot you will receive in the mail is due on [INSERT DATE].

Participating in the democratic process is a privilege and aresponsibility we all share. Please be sure to register and vote.

With all good wishes,Rabbi or President

Appendix C: Sample Bulletin Article

Are You Registered To Vote? Are all members of your fami-ly registered? They should be! Although it has often beenassumed that all Jews always vote, this is no longer true.

In the past, more Jews have been devoted participants in theelectoral process and have influenced elections and the pas-sage of important legislation favoring the Jewish domestic andIsrael agenda. This influence may be eroded if the presentdeclining trend in voting by Jews continues.

We can ... we must ... restore our voting clout at the ballotbox.

We can make a difference! Here’s what we all must do.

1. Be sure that we and all members of our families are reg-istered.

2. Students attending college and children away from homeshould be registered either in their primary residence or athome and vote by absentee ballots.

3. Senior citizens who relocate should be informed of how,when and where to register in their new location.

4. Snowbirds and others who may be away from their legalresidences on Election Day should be advised on the use ofabsentee ballots and be aware of applicable deadlines.

5. Urge everyone you know (friends, relatives, neighbors,business associates) to be registered.

6. Be informed about candidates and election issues.

VOTE IN ALL NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS!!!

8 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana,Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, SouthCarolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin

9 Arkansas, Connecticut. Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois,Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi,Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, NorthDakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee,Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.

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Appendix D: Sample Flyers

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Appendix E: Response Form

Dear Friend,Federal elections will be held Tuesday, November 7th.

Please be sure to cast your ballot.

[IF YOUR SYNAGOGUE OR ORGANIZATION IS PRO-VIDING TRANSPORTATION ADD: If you need a ride to thepolls, please contact our office to make arrangements.]

The polls will be open from [INSERT HOURS]. The polllocations in our area are [INSERT POLL LOCATIONS, IFPOSSIBLE].

Thank you

Appendix F: National Mail-InVoter Registration Rules

On the next page you will find the National Mail-In VoterRegistration Form. If you live in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas,Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, NewJersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,Texas, Utah, Washington, you may photocopy that form anddistribute it to your membership. You may also download thisform from their website (see next page).

In most other states (see page 2 for exceptions), you mayorder multiple copies of the original form from your localBoard of Elections (See Appendix I).

Filling out the National Mail-In Voter Registration Form isrelatively simple. There are, however, a few items that varyfrom state to state. They are the following:

1. Item 6—ID Number: All but the followingstates either request or require your Social SecurityNumber:

a) Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey,New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,Vermont, and Washington.

b) California, Michigan, North Carolina,South Dakota, and Texas require your Driver’sLicense number. (In Texas this in addition toyour Social Security number.)

c) Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Utahand West Virginia require the last four digits ofyour Social Security number. (In Utah this is inaddition to your driver’s license number.)

7. Item 7—Choice of Party: In most states, youmust register with a party in order to vote in thatparty’s primary election, caucus or convention.However in the following states you do not need toregister with a party in advance in order to vote inthat party’s primary election, caucus or convention:

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii,Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee,Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington

8. Item 8—Race or Ethnic Group: Few statesrequire this information. It can never be used to denyregistration! Some states require it to comply withthe Voting Right’s Act. Where it is required, use oneof the following categories which best describes you:American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian PacificIslander (for those not Native Hawaiian); Black (forthose who are not of Hispanic Origin); Hispanic;Multi-racial; Native Hawaiian; White (for those notof Hispanic Origin); Other.

The following states require or request this infor-mation: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, NorthCarolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee,

9. Item 9—Signature: The information to which youswear/affirm varies widely from state to state. In general,it includes being: a citizen of the United States and a res-ident of the state; over the age of 18; mentally competent;and never having been convicted of a felony. You mustcontact your state or local officials to find out the rules inyour state. They will also be able to give you the mailingaddress for this form.

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Appendix G: National Mail-In Voter Registration Form Registration form may be downloaded from http://www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm

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Voter Registration Application

Please fill out the sections below if they apply to you.

To Mail:

Appendix H: Sermon

Suggested Talking Points for Voter Registration/Get Outthe Vote Sermon

We encourage rabbis and other communal leaders to addresstheir congregants and members of other Jewish organizationsabout the importance of voter participation. In lieu of a samplesermon, we have compiled the following talking points that youmay find helpful in preparing your presentations:

• While “Motor Voter” Laws have increased the per-centage of registered voters there are still individuals whofall through the cracks: senior citizens, shut-ins, collegestudents and individuals who have recently moved all rep-resent groups who are often under-represented on voterrolls.

• Registering to vote is now easier than ever before.With the advent of the National Mail-In Voter Registrationform (see Appendix G) the registration process has beensimplified. It is now possible to register over the internet ata number of different sites including http://beavoter.org –this site can be accessed directly or through the homepages of the UAHC, OU, USCJ, JRF, and the JCPA amongothers.

• As in most election years, there has been much talk thisyear about the effect of the “Jewish vote”. While Jews rep-resent less than 3% of the total population, Jews often repre-sent the swing vote in many large states such as New York,New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania and California, giving ourcommunity a level of influence that belies our small num-bers. With the recent selection of Senator Joseph Liebermanas Al Gore’s running mate, the issue of the “Jewish vote”will be even more prevalent this year. Communal leaderscan and should take advantage of the high-profile offered tothe community by hosting election-based programs such ascandidate forums and “issues seminars.”

• There are many issues of concern to the Jewish com-munity including education, health care, the environment,civil rights and religious freedom that will form the coreof the debate in this election year. By exercising the rightto vote, individuals can have a say in charting the futurecourse for our great nation.

• While more and more people are registered to vote,unfortunately voter turnout has steadily dropped in recentelections. Almost 50% of eligible voters do not vote forPresident and the numbers drop significantly in lessprominent elections. Congressional elections draw lessthan 50% of registered voters, while many local electionsare ignored by the majority of registered voters.

• The Jewish community has traditionally voted inhigh numbers for all elections, however, recent studiesindicate that not only do many Jews not vote, many arenot even registered. We must encourage individuals toexercise their right to vote and ensure that our entire com-munity is registered.

• The fact that Jews have the ability to vote in thiscountry should not be lost as we move farther and fartheraway from our immigrant roots. Our grandparents andgreat-grandparents cherished this right like no other. Weare traditionally a community of immigrants who came toAmerica from countries where Jews had no rights and ourforebears viewed the right to vote as an almost religiousexperience. Having a Jewish politician on thePresidential ticket – whether one supports him or not –should invigorate, but also give us pause to think aboutjust how far we have come as a Jewish community overthe last 100 years.

• The perception of the Jewish community’s influencein the political realm stems in large part to the traditionalhigh voter participation rates in the Jewish community.However, this perception is slowly changing as Jews havenot participated in the unprecedented numbers as theyhave in earlier years. It is imperative that we, as commu-nal leaders, urge the community not only to vote, but alsoto make it a communal norm. 100% participation shouldbe our rallying cry; every vote does indeed count.

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Appendix I: State by State Information

State Board of Elections Contact InformationThis section will provide you with contact information for your State’s Board of Elections. Please use this information if you

would like to register to vote, order voter registration forms for the voter registration campaign, find out where polling sites are, or todetermine your state’s voter registration deadline.

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State Board of Elections Board of Elections Registration Accept NationalPhone number Web Site Deadline Mail-In Form

Alabama (334) 242-7210 www.sos.state.al.us/election/ 5:00 p.m. on the 11th yeselection.htm day before the election.

Alaska (907) 465-4611 www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/ 30 days before the election. yeselections/homepage.html

Arizona (602) 506-1511 www.maricopa.gov/recorder/ 23 days before the election. yeselections

Arkansas (501) 682-3526 www.sos.web.state.ar.us 30 days before the election. yesCalifornia (916) 657-2166 www.ss.ca.gov/elections/ 29 days before the election. yes

elections.htmColorado (303) 894-2680 ext.386 www.state.co.us/gov_dir/sos 29 days before the election. yesConnecticut (860) 509-6100 www.state.ct.us/sots 14 days before the election. yesDelaware (302) 577-3464 www.state.de.us/election 20 days before the election. yesDistrict of

Columbia (202) 727-2525 www.dc.boee.org 30 days before the election. yesFlorida (850) 488-7690 election.dos.state.fl.us 28 days before the election. yesGeorgia (404) 656-2871 www.sos.state.ga.us/elections 29 days before the election. yesHawaii (808) 453-8683 www.state.hi.us/elections 30 days before the election. yesIdaho (208) 334-2852 www.idsos.state.id.us 25 days before the election. yesIllinois (217) 782-4141 www.elections.state.il.us 29 days before the election. yes,but must vote

in person the first time

Indiana (317) 232-3939 www.state.in.us/sos/elections 29 days before the election. yesIowa (515)281-5781 www.sos.state.ia.us 10 days before the election yes

in person, 15 days before the election by mail.

Kansas (785) 296-4561 www.kssos.org 15 days before the election. yesKentucky (502) 573-7100 www.state.ky.us/ElecDiv.htm 4th Tuesday proceeding the first yes

Monday following the election.Louisiana (225) 925-7885 www.laelections.org 24 days before the election. yesMaine (207) 287-4186 www.state.me.us/sos/cec/ 15 days before the election. yes

elec/elec.htmMaryland (800) 222-8683 www.elections.state.md.us 24 days before the election. yesMassachusetts (617) 727-2828 www.state.ma.us/sec/ele 20 days before the election. yes

Michigan (517) 373-2540 www.sos.state.mi.us/election/ 30 days before the election. yeshtml

Minnesota (651) 215-1440 www.sos.state.mn.us/election 20 days before the election. yesMississippi (601) 359-6357 www.sos.state.ms.us 30 days before the election. yesMissouri (573) 751-2301 www.mosl.sos.state.mo.us 28 days before the election. yesMontana (406) 444-4732 www.state.mt.us/sos/ 30 days before the election. yes

election.htmNebraska (402) 471-2554 www.nol.org/home/SOS/ The 4th Tuesday before the election. yes

Elections/election.htmNevada (775) 684-5705 www.sos.state.nv.us/nvelection 5th Saturday before the election. yesNew Hampshire (603) 271-3242 www.state.nh.us/sos/ 10 days before the election. No

elections.htmNew Jersey (609) 292-3760 www.state.nj.us/lps/elections 29 days before the election. yesNew Mexico (505) 827-3600 www.sos.state.nm.us/elect.htm 28 days before the election. yes, but has to be

on cardstock New York (518) 474-6220 www.elections.state.ny.us 25 days before the election. yesNorth Carolina (919) 733-7173 www.sboe.state.nc.us/ 25 days before the election. yesNorth Dakota (701) 328-4146 www.state.nd.us/sec/ There is no voter registration. Just no

walk in on election day and vote.Ohio (614) 466-2585 www.state.oh.us/sos/ 30 days before the election. yesOklahoma (405) 521-2391 www.state.ok.us/~elections 24 days before the election. yesOregon (503) 986-1518 www.sos.state.or.us/elections/ 21 days before the election yes

elechp.htm for new registration.Pennsylvania (717) 787-5280 www.dos.state.pa.us/election/ 30 days before the election. yes

(800) 552-VOTE election.htmRhode Island (401) 222-2345 www.elections.state.ri.us 30 days before the election. yesSouth Carolina (803) 734-9060 www.state.sc.us/scsec 30 days before the election. yesSouth Dakota (605) 773-3537 www.state.sd.us/sos/sos. 15 days before the election yes

htm#Elections InformationTennessee (615) 741-7956 www.state.tn.us/sos/ 30 days before the election. yes

soshmpg.htmTexas (512) 463-5650 www.sos.state.tx.us/function/ 30 days before the election. no

elec1/index.html

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Utah (801) 538-1041 www.governor.state.ut.us/ 20 days before the election. yeselections

Vermont (802) 828-2304 www.sec.state.vt.us/elections 2nd Saturday before the yeselection by 12:00pm.

Virginia (804) 786-6551 www.sbe.state.va.us 29 days before the election. yes, but must benotarized

Washington (360) 753-2336 www.secstate.wa.gov 30 days before the election no(or delivered in-person to the local voter registration office 15 days before the election).

West Virginia (304) 558-6000 www.state.wv.us/sos/election 30 days before the election. yesWisconsin (608) 266-8005 no web site No deadline. Can register the day no

of the election at pollsite.Wyoming (307) 777-7186 soswy.state.wy.us 30 days before by mail. yes

Day of the election at the polls.

©2000. Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.Reprinted with permission from the Hadassah Voter Challenge.

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Prepared by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism for:Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Jewish Council for Public AffairsUnion of American Hebrew CongregationsUnion of Orthodox Jewish Congregations

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

2000Get Out The Vote

Program Plan andAction Manual

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation1299 Church Road • Wynecote, PA 19095(215)887-1988 • www.jrf.org

Jewish Council for Public Affairs443 Park Avenue South • New York, NY 10016-7322(212)684-6950 • www.jewishpublicaffairs.org

Union of American Hebrew Congregations633 Third Avenue • New York, NY 10017(202)387-2800 • www.uahc.org

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations11 Broadway • New York, NY 10004(212)563-4000 • www.ou.org

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism155 Fifth Avenue • New York, NY 10010(212)533-7800 • www.uscj.org

Prepared by:Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism2027 Massachusetts Avenue, NW(202)387-2800www.rac.org

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