READY, SET, REGISTER N ONPROFIT V OTER R EGISTRATION Presented by.
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Transcript of READY, SET, REGISTER N ONPROFIT V OTER R EGISTRATION Presented by.
READY, SET, REGISTERNONPROFIT VOTER REGISTRATION
Presented by
ABOUT US
About
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
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Who
Julian JohannesenDirector of Research and
TrainingNonprofit VOTE
Isela Gutiérrez-GunterNonprofit Outreach
CoordinatorDemocracy North Carolina
AGENDA
Agenda
Why Voter Registration & Why Nonprofits
Nonpartisan Guidelines Making a Plan Doing Voter Registration
• In 2012…– 220 million Americans are eligible to vote– 51 million are not registered– 24 million need to update their address*
*http://www.pewstates.org/uploadedFiles/PCS_Assets/2012/ Pew_Upgrading_Voter_Registration.pdf
OPPORTUNITY 2012
PreparingFor 2012
• 9 out of 10 registered voters will turn out to vote in a presidential election
• Voter registration is the first step on the road to becoming an active and engaged voter
• Registered voters are more likely to join neighborhood activities, contact elected officials and be active citizens*
*http://www.civicyouth.org/civic-engagement-among-registered-voters- and-non-registered-eligible-citizens/
WHY VOTER REGISTRATION
Why VoterRegistration
Longer term benefits to your organizations and your community:
• Get the Attention of Candidates• Build Community Clout• Foster Community-Based Leadership
WHY VOTER REGISTRATION (CONTINUED)
Why VoterRegistration
WHY NONPROFITSNonprofits have impact! A 2010 study of voter outreach by nonprofit service providers showed that:
www.nonprofitvote.org/research.html
#1 Clients contacted by an agency about voting were more likely to vote
#2 Their likelihood of voting rose with each additional voter contact
#3 Those contacted were also more likely to talk to family and friends about voting Nonprofit
Impact
NONPARTISAN GUIDELINES
Nonpartisan
Guidelines
THE BASIC GUIDELINE
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization MAY NOT support or oppose a candidate for public office.
501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations MAY engage in nonpartisan:
• Voter Registration• Voter Education• Get Out The Vote Efforts
Nonpartisan
Guidelines
When registering someone to vote:• You may not suggest that they join a particular
political party • You may explain the consequences of
registering without party affiliation • You may direct people to the internet or other
resources to learn more about the parties
GUIDELINES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION
NonpartisanGuidelines
MAKING A PLAN
Making aPlan
Getting Started Knowing the Rules
• Promote voter registration– Use your communications, events, classes to
announce the voter registration deadline, etc.• Conduct a voter registration activity
– Set up a table in your lobby, do voter registration as part of services, trainings or events
GETTING STARTED
Making aPlan
• What to expect when starting out:– Updating an address on a registration is just as
important as registering for the first time– Be prepared if someone tells you they are already
registered. This is why it is useful to combine registration with other activities like promoting your services or an event.
GETTING STARTED (CONTINUED)
Making aPlan
• When planning your efforts keep the following in mind:– Designate a staff person to take the lead– Gain buy-in from the executive director and staff– Target types of activities and when and where– Connect with your local elections officials
GETTING STARTED (CONTINUED)
Making aPlan
• Voter registration deadline– EDR
• Voter registration eligibility requirements– People with a past felony conviction– Age
• Pre-registration
KNOWING THE RULES
Making aPlan
http://www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-in-your-state
• People experiencing homelessness
• Survivors of domestic violence
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Making aPlan
DOINGVOTER REGISTRATION
When and Where to Do It Getting and Returning
Forms Training Staff and
Volunteers Promoting Your Efforts
Doing VoterReg
• Registration Drive: Conduct registration over a week or a month
• Single Day: Focus on a single day, like a weekend or special event
• Closer to the Deadline is Better: The best time to do voter registration is in the couple of months leading up to the registration deadline in your state.
WHEN TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION
Doing VoterReg
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAYwww.nationalvoterregistrationday.org
Doing VoterReg
• At your agency : – As a part of services:
Integrated into intake or other interactions with constituents
– Tabling: In your lobby
WHERE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION
Doing VoterReg
• Outside your agency:– At events: A citizenship
ceremony, a community festival– In your neighborhood: A highly
trafficked location like a transit stop or shopping area
WHERE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION
NOTE: Door-to-door canvassing is not always effective when registering voters.
Doing VoterReg
• Getting voter registration forms– Local elections office
• Returning voter registration forms– Turnaround time– Retaining information for GOTV
GETTING AND RETURNING FORMS
Doing VoterReg
• Provide training for staff and volunteers on:– Answering frequently asked
questions about the voting– Answering questions about
the voter registration form– Filling out the voter
registration form
TRAINING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
Doing VoterReg
• Frequently missed items– Eligibility check boxes– ID number– Date of birth– Party affiliation– Signature and date
HELPING COMPLETE THE FORM
Doing VoterReg
• Create a display in your agency using signs, posters, decorations
• When interacting with clients, let them know they can register to vote in your agency!
• Use your communications like your website and newsletter
http://www.nonprofitvote.org/order-the-register-to-vote-poster.html
PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION
Promote!
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at www.nonprofitvote.org
RESOURCES
Resources
www.nonprofitvote.org/support-voting.htmlSUPPORT VOTING!
Resources
MORE RESOURCES
Resources
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617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111
Isela Gutié[email protected]
Julian Johannesen
