READY, SET, REGISTERNONPROFIT VOTER REGISTRATION

Presented by

ABOUT US

About

A national hub of voter engagement resources and trainings to help nonprofits integrate

nonpartisan voter participation into ongoing activities and services.

Find more about our mission and partners on our website:www.nonprofitvote.org

TODAY’S PRESENTERS

Who

Julian JohannesenDirector of Research and

TrainingNonprofit VOTE

Isela Gutiérrez-GunterNonprofit Outreach

CoordinatorDemocracy North Carolina

AGENDA

Agenda

Why Voter Registration & Why Nonprofits

Nonpartisan Guidelines Making a Plan Doing Voter Registration

• In 2012…– 220 million Americans are eligible to vote– 51 million are not registered– 24 million need to update their address*

*http://www.pewstates.org/uploadedFiles/PCS_Assets/2012/ Pew_Upgrading_Voter_Registration.pdf

OPPORTUNITY 2012

PreparingFor 2012

• 9 out of 10 registered voters will turn out to vote in a presidential election

• Voter registration is the first step on the road to becoming an active and engaged voter

• Registered voters are more likely to join neighborhood activities, contact elected officials and be active citizens*

*http://www.civicyouth.org/civic-engagement-among-registered-voters- and-non-registered-eligible-citizens/

WHY VOTER REGISTRATION

Why VoterRegistration

Longer term benefits to your organizations and your community:

• Get the Attention of Candidates• Build Community Clout• Foster Community-Based Leadership

WHY VOTER REGISTRATION (CONTINUED)

Why VoterRegistration

WHY NONPROFITSNonprofits have impact! A 2010 study of voter outreach by nonprofit service providers showed that:

www.nonprofitvote.org/research.html

#1 Clients contacted by an agency about voting were more likely to vote

#2 Their likelihood of voting rose with each additional voter contact

#3 Those contacted were also more likely to talk to family and friends about voting Nonprofit

Impact

NONPARTISAN GUIDELINES

Nonpartisan

Guidelines

THE BASIC GUIDELINE

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization MAY NOT support or oppose a candidate for public office.

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations MAY engage in nonpartisan:

• Voter Registration• Voter Education• Get Out The Vote Efforts

Nonpartisan

Guidelines

When registering someone to vote:• You may not suggest that they join a particular

political party • You may explain the consequences of

registering without party affiliation • You may direct people to the internet or other

resources to learn more about the parties

GUIDELINES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

NonpartisanGuidelines

MAKING A PLAN

Making aPlan

Getting Started Knowing the Rules

• Promote voter registration– Use your communications, events, classes to

announce the voter registration deadline, etc.• Conduct a voter registration activity

– Set up a table in your lobby, do voter registration as part of services, trainings or events

GETTING STARTED

Making aPlan

• What to expect when starting out:– Updating an address on a registration is just as

important as registering for the first time– Be prepared if someone tells you they are already

registered. This is why it is useful to combine registration with other activities like promoting your services or an event.

GETTING STARTED (CONTINUED)

Making aPlan

• When planning your efforts keep the following in mind:– Designate a staff person to take the lead– Gain buy-in from the executive director and staff– Target types of activities and when and where– Connect with your local elections officials

GETTING STARTED (CONTINUED)

Making aPlan

• Voter registration deadline– EDR

• Voter registration eligibility requirements– People with a past felony conviction– Age

• Pre-registration

KNOWING THE RULES

Making aPlan

http://www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-in-your-state

• People experiencing homelessness

• Survivors of domestic violence

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Making aPlan

DOINGVOTER REGISTRATION

When and Where to Do It Getting and Returning

Forms Training Staff and

Volunteers Promoting Your Efforts

Doing VoterReg

• Registration Drive: Conduct registration over a week or a month

• Single Day: Focus on a single day, like a weekend or special event

• Closer to the Deadline is Better: The best time to do voter registration is in the couple of months leading up to the registration deadline in your state.

WHEN TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION

Doing VoterReg

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAYwww.nationalvoterregistrationday.org

Doing VoterReg

• At your agency : – As a part of services:

Integrated into intake or other interactions with constituents

– Tabling: In your lobby

WHERE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION

Doing VoterReg

• 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

WHERE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION

NOTE: Door-to-door canvassing is not always effective when registering voters.

Doing VoterReg

• Getting voter registration forms– Local elections office

• Returning voter registration forms– Turnaround time– Retaining information for GOTV

GETTING AND RETURNING FORMS

Doing VoterReg

• Provide training for staff and volunteers on:– Answering frequently asked

questions about the voting– Answering questions about

the voter registration form– Filling out the voter

registration form

TRAINING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

Doing VoterReg

• Frequently missed items– Eligibility check boxes– ID number– Date of birth– Party affiliation– Signature and date

HELPING COMPLETE THE FORM

Doing VoterReg

• Create a display in your agency using signs, posters, decorations

• When interacting with clients, let them know they can register to vote in your agency!

• Use your communications like your website and newsletter

http://www.nonprofitvote.org/order-the-register-to-vote-poster.html

PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION

Promote!

• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at www.nonprofitvote.org

RESOURCES

Resources

www.nonprofitvote.org/support-voting.htmlSUPPORT VOTING!

Resources

MORE RESOURCES

Resources

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info@nonprofitvote.org

617.357.VOTE (8683)

www.nonprofitvote.org

Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111

Isela Gutiérrez-Gunterisela@democracy-nc.org

Julian Johannesen

julian@nonprofitvote.org