plan ahead building a voter engagement timeline for 2012 presented by
TRANSCRIPT
PLAN AHEADBUILDING A VOTER ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE FOR 2012
Presented by
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Who
Jeff NarabrookPublic Policy AssociateMinnesota Council of
NonprofitsMinnesota Participation
Project
Julian JohannesenDirector of Research and
TechnologyNonprofit VOTE
VOTE NOVEMBER 6TH!
Agenda
• This will be the first election after redistricting!
• 50 million more people will vote in 2012 than in 2010
• 15 million people will be eligible to vote for the first time in 2012
OPPORTUNITY 2012
Opportunities
Why we get out the vote!• Advance our missions and our issues
• Increase voting in our communities
• Build clout for our organizations and the people we engage and serve• Build capacity for our organizations and communities
• Get our ideas in front of candidates
OPPORTUNITY 2012
Opportunities
AGENDA
Agenda
Making a Plan
Voter Registration
Candidate Engagement and Ballot Measures
Voter Education and GOTV
Election Day
MAKING A PLAN
• Executive Director: Get buy-in from your Executive Director.
• Staff Lead: Choose a staff lead, someone who will be the point person for your voter engagement work.
• Other Staff: Involve other staff and volunteers. Everyone needs to understand the importance of this work.
GETTING BUY-IN
• Clients and constituents • Staff and volunteers • People in your community
TARGETING YOUR AUDIENCE
• What are your ongoing programs or points of contact with your audience?
• What about any special programs or events?• Candidates - A local race? Ballot measures?
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
• Who needs to be trained to carry out your activities?
• When and where will you hold trainings?
• Training Resources
TRAINING
VOTER
REGISTRATION
• Many community members are already registered to vote
• Updating an address on a registration is just as important as registering for the first time
• Even small numbers of registrations aggregate up to a large number on a state-wide or national level
PRINCIPLES OF VOTER REGISTRATION
• Year Round: As a part of intake or everyday practice.• Close to Deadline: The best time to do voter
registration is in the month leading up to the registration deadline in your state.
• Single Day: Single day events, like a graduation ceremony, local festival, or local sporting event are good opportunities to register voters.
WHEN TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION
KNOW YOUR DEADLINE
• September 25th is National Voter Registration Day!
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
• At your agency: In your lobby, in classes, at client intake, etc.
• At events: A high school graduation, a citizenship ceremony, an open house
• In your neighborhood: A highly trafficked location like a bus station
WHERE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION
NOTE: Door-to-door canvassing is not effective when registering voters.
• Promote voter registration
– Put up a voter registration poster in your lobby
– Publicize the registration deadline in your newsletter, on your blog or your
site’s homepage, or on social media like Facebook and Twitter
• Conduct your own voter registration activities
– Set up a table in your lobby
– Make voter registration a part of client intake
REGISTRATION ACTIVITIES
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT
• Candidate Forums: Sponsor or co-sponsor a candidate forum on a local race – 4 months before
• Candidate Appearances: Invite candidates from a local race(s) to attend a fall event – 1-3 months before
• Share Your Research: Provide candidates your research or policy ideas – After state primary
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT
CandidateEngagement
VOTER EDUCATION AND GET OUT THE
VOTE
• What’s on the ballot: Sample ballots and voter guides
• How to vote: Pass out voter tips on how to vote or get help voting
VOTER EDUCATION
Voter Education
• Do Voter Education Only: Provide nonpartisan voter education on ballot measures
• Make an Endorsement: Take a position for or against a ballot measure
BALLOT MEASURES
BallotMeasures
• 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
GETTING OUT THE VOTE
GOTV
• Make it a special day
• Reminders to vote in the last few days
• Time off for staff
ELECTION DAY
ElectionDay
• Promote: If results were good or activities successful, let your audience know what you did to get out the vote
• Evaluate: Review what you did to inform your future election work
POST-ELECTION
Post-Election
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at www.nonprofitvote.org
RESOURCES
Resources
RESOURCES
Resources
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111
Jeff Narabrook
Julian Johannesen