get ready for election day! what nonprofits can do to get out and protect the vote between now and...
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GET READY FORELECTION DAY!
What Nonprofits Can Do To Get Out and Protect the VoteBetween Now and Election Day
ABOUT US
About
A national hub of voter engagement resources and trainings to help nonprofits encourage our
staff and the people we serve to participate and vote.
Find more about our mission and partners on our website:www.nonprofitvote.org
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Who
Avi GreenCo-DirectorMassVOTE
AGENDA
Agenda
What Nonprofits Can Do Getting Out The Vote Election Day Tools and Resources Questions
WHAT NONPROFITS CAN DO• One Rule: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit
may not support or oppose candidates for public office.
• Voter Engagement: However, 501(c)(3) may undertake a wide variety of nonpartisan voter engagement activities, including:– Voter Registration– Voter Education– Get Out the Vote
Get OutThe Vote
GET OUT THE VOTE
Agenda
Principles Talking about Voting!
• Be positive• Be helpful• Be prepared
Early Voting GOTV Activities
PRINCIPLES OF GOTV
• Make it Personal: Personal contact works best!
• Promote Turnout: Everyone’s doing it. Turnout’s expected to be high
• Create Urgency: There’s a lot at stake. On issues, for your nonprofit, for the community
• Make it Easy: Voting’s easy to do
Get OutThe Vote
• Your relationship with your staff, constituents and community is one of your greatest assets
• Face to face interaction is most effective
• Use every interaction and all of your communications channels to talk about voting
TALKING ABOUT VOTING!
TalkingAbout Voting
• Use positive messages– Your voice, your vote!– Stand up and be counted!– You decide! Don’t let others decide
for you!
• Avoid negative ones– Scale back voter suppression talk that
makes voting seem confusing or hard
BE POSITIVE
TalkingAbout Voting
• It’s your civic duty: As an American citizen, it is your responsibility to do your civic duty and vote on Election Day.
• Improve your future: Voting brings us together as Americans and is something you can do to help strengthen your community. All eligible Americans should cast a ballot on Election Day for their future, their children’s futures, and the future of our great nation.
• Taking control: Voting is your chance to take control over what happens to your family and your community. Many Americans are struggling these days and all Americans deserve a say in how to solve these problems.
MESSAGES THAT WORK
TalkingAbout Voting
• Stand up: It’s important to stand up for our rights and elect leaders who will lift up our country and our communities. America’s future is our future, and we need to vote and make sure the politicians hear our voices and know we count and we matter. We can’t complain about the way things are going if we don’t take responsibility and stand up for what we believe in.
• Your voice matters: Your vote — along with everyone’s vote — matters. It lets politicians know that the American people have an opinion, and that they need to listen to what we have to say.
• Understand the rules: In order to participate in our democracy and have your voice heard, you need to understand the voting rules in your state, register on time, and show up at the correct polling place..
MESSAGES THAT WORK (CONT.)
TalkingAbout Voting
• Assume that people plan to vote and ask questions based on that assumption– Are you voting early or on Election Day?– What time are you voting? Before work? After work?– How are you getting to your polling place?– What help do you need voting?
• “Scheduling an appointment” to vote– Research shows that being asked to think about or visualize
your plan to vote increases the chance that you will vote
BE HELPFUL
TalkingAbout Voting
BE PREPARED
Make sure you can answer questions from your clients and constituents about things like:• How to vote early• The day of the week and date of
the election• The polling place hours• How to find their polling place• What ID they might need to vote• How to get help voting
Get Out The Vote
EARLY VOTING MATTERS!• Vote by Mail/Absentee Ballots:
– Find and promote the deadlines for applying for and turning in an absentee ballot.
• Early Voting In Person: – Promote where and when to vote
early in person
Get OutThe Vote
BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY
• Target your audiences and activities
• Remind people to vote• Help people vote• Create visibility and excitement
Get OutThe Vote
GOTV ACTIVITIES
• Orient staff to answer basic election questions
• When providing services, ask people if they need help voting
• Hold a Get Out The Vote event (like a Trick or Vote event)
• Give out sample ballots, voter guides, palm cards
• Remind anyone who calls your office about Election Day
Get OutThe Vote
ON ELECTION DAY Provide Assistance Time Off Celebrate Democracy
• Talk to clients and constituents about voting and offer assistance
• Help constituents find their polling place
• Promote the toll free voter assistance hotlines and the free smart phone app:
1-866-OUR-VOTE1-888-Ve-Y-Vota
PROVIDE ELECTION ASSISTANCE
ElectionDay
• Allow staff to take part in nonpartisan get out the vote activities
• Or as a staff person, take personal time to work for a campaign
• Become a poll worker or poll monitor
TIME OFF ON ELECTION DAY
ElectionDay
• Make the election visible and create a festive atmosphere
• Ask people about voting and if possible provide assistance
CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY!
ElectionDay
TOOLS AND RESOURCES General Voting
Information Early Voting Polling Place Finders Help Lines
Learn about voting in your state (early voting, voter ID, polling place finders, etc.) with these resources:
• Nonprofit VOTE’s Voting in Your State
• The League of Women Voters’ Vote411
STATE VOTING INFORMATION
• Nonprofit VOTE 50 State Guide: Links to
official information on Absentee and Early in-person
voting on your state election website
• Long Distance Voter: The absentee ballot experts
and guide to early voting
• US Vote Foundation: Fill out, print and send in
absentee ballot request on your state’s form
Call your local election board for more!
EARLY VOTING
POLLING PLACE FINDERS
Resources
• Many states now have online polling place finders. You can find these sites by visiting Nonprofit VOTE’S Voting in Your State page and selecting your state
• In addition, The Pew Center on the States’ Voting Information Project has released a set of tools that will allow people to find their polling place online
HELP LINES
Resources
Two national voter help lines will be available on Election Day:
1-866-OUR-VOTEAnd
1-800-Ve-Y-Vota
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111
Avi Green
Julian Johannesen
Contact