PLAN AHEAD 2016: CREATING A VOTER ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE FOR YOUR NONPROFIT Presented by

ABOUT US About Us 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 at

TODAY’S PRESENTERS Who Lindsey Hodel National Field Director Nonprofit VOTE Julian Johannesen Director of Research & Training Nonprofit VOTE

AGENDA Agenda Introduction Making a Plan The Six Steps New Resources Voter Engagement Tactics Voter Registration Ballot Measures & Candidate Engagement Voter Education & Get Out The Vote (GOTV)

Our voices are not being heard Voter engagement and advocacy work go together Nonprofits have unique access and assets When we do this work, we are extremely effective! WHY VOTING MATTERS Why This Matters

34 Senate races will take place in 2016, 9 of which are expected to be highly competitive. All 435 members of the House will be on the ballot, including 33 races that are predicted to be highly competitive. 12 states will have governor’s races. And hundreds of measures will appear on the ballot this year. Presidential years are good years to capitalize on the excitement and media coverage generated by the presidential race. OPPORTUNITY 2016 Opportunity

MAKING A PLAN

Establish Buy-In: Get buy-in from your … –Executive Director and senior staff –Participating staff Designate a Staff Lead: Choose a staff lead, someone who will be the point person for your voter engagement work. STEP ONE: ESTABLISH BUY IN Step 1

Face to face and one on one interactions are proven to be the most effective ways to influence clients Engaging your staff Programs and points of contact: At your agency, at events, or in your neighborhood Services or classes to target Special programs or events: A graduation, a community festival, a citizenship ceremony, etc. STEP TWO: TARGET ACTIVITIES Step 2

Set ambitious but achievable goals –How many of your staff and volunteers will be involved? –How many individuals can you reach? –What new capacities, skills and knowledge can your organization gain? –What new election related activities can you participate in? STEP THREE: SETTING GOALS Step 3

Learn about voting in your state –Nonprofit VOTE’s Voting in Your State Tool: –Reach out to your local elections officials Review nonpartisan guidelines –Nonprofit VOTE’s online guide to c3 rules: elections-online/ STEP FOUR: LEARN THE VOTING RULES Step 4

Identify staff and volunteers who will be involved Get riled up! Provide a rationale for the work Initial training: Make sure they have the skills they need. Ongoing training and support: Periodically review with staff what they need to know, provide materials and resources STEP FIVE: STAFF UP AND TRAIN Step 5

Find allies: a non-partisan group doing voter engagement work, an advocacy partner or a voter engagement training partner Meet with your local election office Consider opportunities: around ballot measures, candidate forums or Get-Out- The-Vote activities. STEP SIX: FIND PARTNERS Step 6

VOTER ENGAGEMENT TACTICS Tactics Staying Nonpartisan Voter Registration Ballot Measure Advocacy Candidate Engagement Voter Education Get Out The Vote (GOTV)

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may NOT support or oppose a candidate for public office or a political party. May do: Nonpartisan voter registration Nonpartisan voter education and Get-Out-The-Vote Candidate Engagement Ballot measure advocacy STAYING NONPARTISAN May not do: Make an endorsement Donate money or resources

VOTER REGISTRATION

When: For the Nov. election start in July or Aug. Ramp up your activities as you near the deadline. Conduct a pilot of your registration efforts STARTING VOTER REG Voter Reg

Combine: Combine your voter registration work with a “Pledge to Vote” ask Updating: Some people are already registered. Others may need to update their registration with a new address or name change. Ask “Have you updated your registration since you last moved?” KEEP IN MIND Voter Reg

Online: Online voter registration is now available in 26 states. Any voter with a valid state ID can register to vote or update their registration online. EDR: In some states people can register to vote on Election Day! KEEP IN MIND

KNOW YOUR DEADLINE Voter Reg

September 27 th is National Voter Registration Day! – trationday.org/ – NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY Voter Reg NVRD!

BALLOT MEASURES AND CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT

VOTER EDUCATION & GET OUT THE VOTE

TWO KINDS OF VOTER EDUCATION Education on the process of voting –Inform clients and constituents of the date of the election, polling place hours, where to get help voting, early voting opportunities, etc. Education on candidates/offices and issues –Pass out nonpartisan voter guides or a sample ballot Voter Education

Create visibility: Make the election visible at your agency Promote Early Voting –When and how to vote early in person –Help applying for a mail ballot Promote Election Day voting –Big push in final week and last 2 days –Remind/offer help voting during services, at events, over the phone GET OUT THE VOTE GOTV

Give staff time off: To work at polls or do nonpartisan GOTV Ask if you voted: Ask everyone if they voted or need help voting Celebrate Democracy: Make Election Day special. Have a party. ON ELECTION DAY Election Day

Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at RESOURCES Resources

RESOURCES Resources

VOTE (8683) Nonprofit VOTE 89 South Street Suite 203 Boston, MA Lindsey Hodel Julian Johannesen