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Hosting a Voter Registration Drive at Your Nonprofit

About Nonprofit VOTE Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the leading source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services. Visit www.nonprofitvote.org for our free resources, including factsheets, checklists, toolkits, and additional webinars.

Agenda Why do voter registration? Staying nonpartisan Making a plan Your voter registration drive When Where Recruiting and training staff/volunteers Filling out the form Q & A with presenter Dr. Mittie Davis Jones Chairman, Connection Committee Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Alpha Omega Chapter

Why do Voter Registration at your nonprofit organization?

Why Voter Registration In 2012, 1 in 4 eligible Americans was not registered to vote Disparities in voter outreach by campaigns Disparities in election administration across states Disparities across communities in voter registration & turnout Who votes matters!

Green states: Same Day Registration Orange states: 4 Week Deadline for Voter Registration

Nonprofit Voters Are: 2.3 times more likely to be non- white 2.6 times more likely to be under 25 years old 1.9 times more likely to have less than $30,000 in household income

Why Voter Registration Longer term benefits to your organizations and your community: Get the Attention of Candidates Build Community Clout Foster Community-Based Leadership

National Voter Registration Day Helping hundreds of thousands of people nationwide: Register before their voter registration deadline Learn more about an upcoming election they can vote in Celebrate a civic national holiday! September 24th, 2019 (and the fourth Tuesday every September)  Sign up as a partner for FREE posters and stickers at: www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org/partner

Staying Nonpartisan

THE BASIC GUIDELINE “A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may not support or oppose a candidate for public office” -1954 amendment to US Tax Code

Guidelines for voter registration When registering someone to vote: You may not suggest which candidate to support or which political party to join You may explain what it means to register without party affiliation You may provide nonpartisan voter guides or encourage people to ask friends or neighbors to learn more about the candidates

The National Voter Registration ACT The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 requires: Agencies signing up people for federal benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, SCHIP, WIC, TANF to proactively offer voter registration States to designate state-funded programs for people with disabilities to offer voter registration

Federal funds and voter registration Nonprofits who receive Community Service Block Grant funding (e.g. Community Action Agencies) and Head Start agencies may not: Use CSBG or Head Start funds to pay for staff or materials to conduct voter registration. Use CSBG or Head Start funds to provide rides to the polls. AmeriCorps members cannot conduct voter registration during work hours.

Making a Plan

What to expect Many people are already registered Updating an address on a registration is just as important as registering for the first time Since many people are already registered, it is useful to combine registration with other activities like a voter pledge card or promoting your services or an event.

When planning your efforts keep the following in mind: Getting Started When planning your efforts keep the following in mind: Put your plan on paper! Designate a staff person to take the lead Gain buy-in from the executive director and staff Connect with your local elections office

Visit fairelectionscenter.org for state fact sheets Knowing the Rules Voter registration deadlines Same day registration/Election day voter registration Voter registration eligibility requirements The basics Pre-registration Ex-offenders Voter ID Safe at Home/address confidentiality programs State-specific rules on voter registration Turnaround time Visit fairelectionscenter.org for state fact sheets

Your Voter Registration Drive

When to do Voter Registration Registration Drive: Conduct registration over the weeks or months leading up to the voter registration deadline in your state, e.g. during August, September and October. Single Day: Focus on a single day, like a weekend or special event National Voter Registration Day: September 24th, 2019

Where to do Voter Registration At your agency: As a part of services: Integrated into intake or other interactions with constituents Tabling: In your lobby, outside your front door or in a high traffic area 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

Recruit and train staff and volunteers Provide training for staff and volunteers on: Why this is important Answering FAQs about voting Answering FAQs about the voter registration form Making the ask Filling out the form

Making an effective ask Confidence, assertiveness and eye contact “Are you registered to vote at your current address?” Be accurate. An incomplete form or a form filled out incorrectly does not count Cultural competency when discussing citizenship

Getting and returning paper forms Getting voter registration forms Can you print them yourself or do you need to order/pick them up from the elections office? Returning completed voter registration forms to your local election office States have deadlines for returning forms, sometimes as few as 3 business days!

Helping complete the paper form Frequently missed items Eligibility check boxes ID number Date of birth Party affiliation Signature and date

Promoting Voter registration When interacting with clients, let them know they can register to vote in your agency! Use your communications channels - social media, website, newsletter Create a display in your agency using signs, posters, decorations

Online voter registration Online voter registration is a rapidly growing trend! 2/3rds of states now have paperless online voter registration! Only 12 states do not have OVR (online voter registration): AR, ME, MS, MT, NH, NJ, NC, ND*, SD, TX, WY *North Dakota does not require voters to register

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