The Benefits of Voting: Making the Case for Nonprofit Voter Outreach Presented by All attendees will receive a copy of this PowerPoint presentation and a link to the recorded webinar

Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with America's nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are a leading source of nonpartisan training, materials and other resources for nonprofits doing voter engagement work. Find out more about our mission and partners on our site ABOUT US About

TODAY’S PRESENTERS Who George Pillsbury Senior Consultant Nonprofit VOTE Julian Johannesen Director of Research & Training Nonprofit VOTE

AGENDA Agenda 2016 Election Benefits for Voters Benefits for Nonprofits Why Nonprofits? Resources

There’s a lot on the ballot in 2016 beyond the presidential election, including: 38 Senate Races 435 House Races 12 Governors’ Races 42 State Senates on Ballot 44 State Houses on Ballot Ballot Measures 2016 ELECTION 2016

COMPETITIVE SENATE RACES IN 2016 Cooks Political Report – Feb 2016 Ratings

BENEFITS FOR VOTERS

Source: CIRCLE analysis of November 2010 Current Population Survey VOTERS ARE ACTIVE CITIZENS Active Citizens

STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS = BETTER PERSONAL HEALTH connection-infographic/

HEALTH AND EMPOWERMENT “The overall picture of good health is to learn how you can empower yourself so you can have some control over the things in life that are under your control. Engaging in the community is a part of that, and voting is a part of that.” Source: Marc Zimmerman, Professor at University of Michigan’s School of Health Personal Efficacy

VOTING AND WELL-BEING “Statistical analyses showed that after controlling for demographic factors like age, race, political orientation, and education, study participants who scored higher in political activism also reported higher levels of personal well-being.” Source: Tim Kasser, “Making a difference makes you happy,” Yes Magazine Personal Efficacy

LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES Ex-offenders who have their voting rights restored are less likely to return to prison. The Florida Parole Commission reported that over a two year period ex-offenders who had their voting rights restored were three times less likely to end up back in custody ClemencyReport.pdf More

BENEFITS FOR NONPROFITS

VOTER OUTREACH BOOST ADVOCACY Over the last decade, the Chinese Progressive Association based in Boston has worked tirelessly to register, educate and mobilize Boston’s Chinese-American Access to city council and state legislators Access to mayor; appointed to mayor’s development council CPA’s Story

VOTER OUTREACH MAKES US RELEVANT Voter outreach raises your profile. Just as it did for the Providers’ Council of Massachusetts, which held its second successful gubernatorial forum in Providers’ Council

RAISES OUR PROFILE Activities like candidate questionnaires, candidate appearances, ballot measure advocacy all raise our profile. Benefits For Nonprofits

MORE REPRESENTATIVE ELECTORATE More Democracy Those who do not vote or vote infrequently have very different views than do voters on public policy.

NEW VOTERS = NEW LEADERSHIP In 2015, three new contestants became the first candidates of color to win election on the Quincy, MA city council, reflecting shifting demographics and voter mobilization.

WHY NONPROFTS

NONPROFITS HAVE UNIQUE ASSETS Assets Regular face-to-face and one-on-one contact with clients and constituents Trusted messengers Deeply rooted in local communities Cultural competency Mission aligned

REACHING OVERLOOKED VOTERS Many people are never contacted by a political party or campaign about upcoming elections. Why Nonprofits

EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE When nonprofit staff and volunteers help clients register to vote or sign a pledge to vote, those clients turn out to vote at higher rates than other registered voters in the same demographics, across all demographic groups. Why Nonprofits

In 2014, Nonprofit VOTE conducted a study in which nonprofit staff and volunteers conducted voter registration and pledge to vote activities. The study involved: 129 nonprofits in 9 states 44,000 nonprofit clients 29,000 clients/constituents matched OUR 2014 STUDY Study

Nonprofits reach the lower turnout populations that campaigns don’t. REACHING OVERLOOKED VOTERS Role of Nonprofits

TURNOUT BY INCOME Income

BY VOTING PROPENSITY Propensity

FACTSHEETS

VOTE (8683) Nonprofit VOTE 2464 Massachusetts Ave Suite 210 Cambridge, MA George Pillsbury Julian Johannesen