Welcoming New Partners

We'd like to welcome two of our newest national partners, The National Community Tax Coalition (NCTC) and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), to the Nonprofit VOTE network.
The National Community Tax Coalition and its 2,100 member organizations offer free tax preparation and financial services to low-income families. NCTC is the nation's 4th largest provider of tax preparation services, completing an estimated 1.2 million federal tax returns each year. To complement their work in 2012, NCTC and its members will register voters at tax time and provide voter education as part of their ongoing outreach and advocacy efforts.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition works on public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes have affordable and decent homes. They do this by working to preserve existing federally assisted homes and housing resources and expanding the supply of low income housing. In addition to their low income housing education and advocacy work, NLIHC is spearheading a national "Voterization 2012" campaign that educates its affiliates on how to register, educate and mobilize voters, and supplies them with a range of tools, guidance, and support.

The efforts of NCTC and NLIHC illustrate the leadership role our partners have taken in sharing nonprofit voter engagement messages in their communities. This leadership demonstrates the value they place on encouraging participation among their clients, and its impact on the mission of their organization. We're pleased to add the National Community Tax Coalition and the National Low Income Housing Coalition to our growing list of partners.

Texas Maps on Trial

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from Texas Republicans over whether a panel of federal judges acted properly when it replaced the state legislature's congressional map with its own.

The judges' map was the result of a lawsuit that claimed the legislature-drawn map did not give adequate opportunity for minority groups to elect representatives of their choosing, as required by the Voting Rights Act. Texas gained four congressional seats from the 2010 Census--65% of the state's new residents were Latino--yet only one of the four new districts was majority-minority.

Oral argument is set for January 9, and in addition to the implications for voters, a New York Times article highlighted the plight of Texas elections officials who are now stuck in a holding pattern. With less than 90 days before Super Tuesday (March 6), election preparations should be well underway. Instead they are stalled because there are no districts: ballots have not been programmed, proofed or printed, machines have not been tested, voter registration cards haven't been printed or mailed, and poll workers haven't been trained.

However the maps are ultimately drawn, the case has already impacted the election schedule, and has the potential to affect voter turnout and county budgets. Even candidates have been unable to file because their districts simply don't exist. However the Supreme Court rules, the outcome could forever change the way our districts are drawn.

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Nonprofit VOTE Debuts on YouTube

We're pleased to announce that Nonprofit VOTE is now on YouTube! In an effort to make our materials more accessible, our entire webinar library is now available on our YouTube channel.

Although our 2011 webinar series has concluded, the presentations--as well as webinars from past years--can be viewed on demand at your convenience. Best of all, if you subscribe to the Nonprofit VOTE channel, you'll be notified automatically whenever new content is available.

We hope you'll take advantage of this new way to access our webinar content and will encourage your colleagues to visit our channel to learn more about nonprofit voter engagement.

Holiday Tips from Nonprofit VOTE

With the holidays upon us, only a handful of people are giving the 2012 election much thought, and chances are they have a January primary. Although many people are preoccupied with carols, ice skating, hot cocoa, and vacation, there are still plenty of opportunities to sneak voter registration into the fun (without any extra effort)!

Wondering how? It's simple: just give the gift that keeps on giving--the gift of registration. We have suggestions for wherever the holidays may take you:

• At your staff party set voter registration forms next to the refreshments. Voting is guaranteed to get everyone in the mood to celebrate!
• Have plans to go caroling? Take voter registration cards with you and pass them out after the performance.
• Invited to a party or dropping off cookies for the neighbors? Attach a voter registration card and throw a bow on top.
• Hosting something at your place with people from different states? Don't worry! Use the national voter registration form and cover all your bases.

If you live in a state that allows online registration, bring along your iPad or Kindle Fire and spread holiday cheer without any paperwork! Don't forget that a voter registration card makes a great stocking stuffer, because really, what's better than being registered to vote? Learn more about voter registration in your state.

Do you have any strategies for talking up voter registration around the holidays?

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Speed Dating for Votes

Last month, candidates in Vancouver's municipal elections campaigned a little differently—they dated voters.

Of course, these were strictly platonic "dates" and were part of a candidate speed dating event organized by Get Your Vote On—a nonpartisan group who encourages youth participation. For many attendees, the format made perfect sense because "you're going to be in a three-year relationship" with whoever is elected.

The quick rounds of face time give voters a chance to ask questions and interact with candidates on a more personal level. The evening had something for everyone, including a formal candidate debate after the speed dating concluded.

Luckily you don't have to go to Canada to date your candidates. Similar speed dating events have been held across the country, in places like Portland, Oregon and Juneau, Alaska. Speed dating seems like an effective and fun way to engage candidates, so why not organize an event in your community? Learn more about candidate engagement and then start dating!

Registering New Citizens on Day One

The picture above was taken on 08/31/11 following a naturalization
ceremony at Boston's TD Garden. See more pictures from the event.

In October, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) revised its guidelines on voter registration at naturalization ceremonies. Now, for the first time ever, USCIS has committed to providing new citizens the opportunity to register at every administrative naturalization ceremony in the country.

This is incredible news! While many elections officials and nonprofits have worked to bring voter registration to naturalization ceremonies, this is the first unifying directive. Demos has summarized what this means for all involved parties in "Voter Registration for New Americans":

• New citizens will be encouraged and able to register to vote as soon as they become citizens. This will help close the registration gap between native born and naturalized citizens who are registered at 71.8% and 60.5%, respectively.
• State and local elections officials will be called upon to increase their activities at ceremonies and dedicate staff time to cover as many events as possible. 
• Voter registration groups, as long as they are nonpartisan, can provide voter registration assistance at naturalization ceremonies, complementing elections officials' efforts and filling existing gaps.
• USCIS will undertake responsibility for ensuring that all new citizens receive voter registration forms when neither elections officials nor registration groups can be present and will work to make voter registration part of the naturalization ceremony.

With this new strategy in place, it will be exciting to see how many new citizens are registered at naturalization ceremonies in 2012!

How Technology is Transforming Elections

As last week's webinar showed, it's never too early to start thinking about the 2012 election. In preparing for next year, many elections officials will utilize a variety of new voting technologies.

Technology will impact voter registration, voter information, the voting experience itself, and administrative practices—like how ballots are counted and monitored.

Finally catching the online wave, elections officials and secretaries of states have flocked to Facebook and Twitter (the EAC cultivates an elections officials and office Twitter list) to better connect with voters and share important deadlines and information. Some local boards are using targeted Facebook ads to reach residents, and hoping that they'll share their enthusiasm for elections with their social network.

Online voter registration is available in a number of states (see if yours is one of them) and has made it easier for would-be voters to register and update their registration. It's also helped organizations streamline their registration efforts by reducing logistical concerns related to returning forms.

The Pew Center on the States is working with 35 states to create new voting tools, including an app to help military and overseas voters fill out their ballot and a multilingual polling place locator.

Because many election components have migrated online, many voters are dreaming of the day that they'll be able to vote online. Most will have to be patient—security and hacking concerns have impeded any substantial progress toward making online voting safe and secure. However, some municipalities have toyed with the idea, and Washington is set to permit its roughly 52,000 voters abroad to do so in 2012.

How has technology impacted your registration or voting experience?

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Webinar Recap: Building a 2012 Plan

Hopefully you were able to join us for yesterday's webinar, Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012. If not, you can still watch the presentation and access the materials.

Watch the presentation online or download the PowerPoint and audio file. Several resources and materials were mentioned during the webinar, including:

• Information about voting in your state. 
• Information about voter registration in your state. 
• Project Vote's voter registration guides, available in select states. 

Check out our website for additional nonpartisan voter engagement resources and visit our YouTube channel to browse other Nonprofit VOTE webinars. Subscribe to our channel and receive a notification every time a new video is posted.

Although we've wrapped our 2011 webinar schedule, we'll be back in 2012 with new topics, expert presenters, and important information for nonprofits. Want to suggest a topic? Leave a comment or email us at info@nonprofitvote.org!

Recent Trends in Youth Civic Engagement

A new CIRCLE study, "Understanding a Diverse Generation: Youth Civic Engagement in the United States," provides an in-depth analysis of recent youth civic engagement trends. The findings challenge many common myths about the ways in which young people (ages 18-29) are involved in our political system.

The study found that at least three quarters of youth were somehow engaged in their community or in politics in both 2008 and 2010--but in very different ways. Six distinct patterns of engagement emerged in 2010:

• The Broadly Engaged (21% of youth) fill many different leadership roles.
• The Political Specialists (18%) are focused on voting and other forms of political activism.
• The Donors (11%) give money but do little else.
• The Under-Mobilized (14%) were registered to vote in 2010 but did not actually vote or participate actively.
• The Talkers (13%) report discussing political issues and are avid communicators online, but do not take action otherwise.
• The Civically Alienated (23%) hardly engage at all.

See a visual representation of these numbers.

Although this data contradicts the bleak and homogenous picture often painted by the media, it is still clear that many young people are not fully engaged. Other research suggests that some of them could be persuaded to vote if they were directly asked to participate or if voting seemed more accessible--something nonprofits can address. Learn more about nonprofit voter engagement and how your organization can increase participation rates in your community.

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RSVP for Thursday's Webinar

There's still time to register for this week's webinar (and our final one of 2011). We'll help you start planning for next year's general election and how your nonprofit can maximize your impact with the resources you already have.

Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012
Thursday December 1st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

The 2012 presidential election will be here soon, and it's time to start thinking about your nonprofit's plan for registering, educating, and engaging voters. This webinar will cover when, where, and how to incorporate nonpartisan voter engagement activities into your work. We'll also help you develop and tailor a 2012 voter engagement timeline for your organization. Don't miss this opportunity to start building a voter engagement plan for 2012 now!

Giving Every State a Shot at the Primaries

As the FEC continues to update the 2012 primary calendar, four states now have presidential primaries scheduled in January; the first is a full 10 months before the general election.

States jockeying for an "early" primary date is nothing new, but four January elections have many questioning the free for all scheduling scramble. Although it looks like the danger of a December primary has passed, the possibility is a good reason to consider a longstanding proposal from the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

NASS adopted the Rotating Regional Presidential Primaries Plan back in 1999 to reign in the front-loaded nominating calendar by establishing a system that gives every state the chance to play a role.

The plan would group party primaries (or caucuses) by region and a lottery would determine which region would begin the sequence (during the next presidential election the first region would move to the end of the sequence). Primaries in each state of a given region would be scheduled on or soon after the first Tuesday in March, April, May, or June of presidential election years, although Iowa and New Hampshire would retain their leading positions in the presidential selection process.

The regional groupings under the NASS plan are:

1. East: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
2. South: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 
3. Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. 
4. West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Guam.

Of course, this is just one proposal. What do you think of the plan and how else could we improve the primary scheduling system?

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Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of Thanksgiving, we wanted to share just a few of the many things Nonprofit VOTE is grateful for this year.

We're thankful for…

• Our amazing network of state and national partners and their commitment to expanding nonprofit voter engagement among their affiliates.
• Election Day Registration because it ensures that everyone who wants to vote can, without having to worry about missing the registration deadline. 
• Early voting opportunities--both by mail and in-person--that make voting more convenient and accessible for everyone.
• The upcoming 2012 election, because after two years of nonstop talk and speculation, it's finally less than a year away. (Sign up for our December 1st webinar on making a 2012 voter engagement plan.)
• The elections officials, Secretaries of State, local elections boards, and registrars who make elections happen!

This is a short list and doesn't even begin to cover the thousands of local nonprofits registering and engaging voters everyday. So while we don't have space to write out every thing, person, election reform, and organization we're thankful for, we still want to say "Thank you!"

Happy Thanksgiving from Nonprofit VOTE!

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NCAI Launches Native Vote 2012

November is well known for Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and daylight savings, but it's also American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

In that vein, we wanted to applaud the commitment and effort of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) to promote voter engagement in Native communities. Earlier this month, NCAI officially launched the Native Vote 2012 campaign during their 68th annual convention. Native Vote has been around for a while, but it has become more prominent in recent years and has helped highlight the role of Native voters in both the national and local political process.

Although the 2012 presidential election is still a year away, the timing of this launch makes it clear that civic leaders in the American Indian community recognize the need and importance of increasing voter participation rates. We hope that this move will inspire other groups across the country to begin thinking about how they plan to register, educate, and engage voters in 2012.

Make sure your nonprofit is one of them, and help ensure your clients are represented and empowered. For ideas, join our December 1st webinar Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012. And for more information on the American Indian population, check out this collection of facts from the Census Bureau.

Redistricting Continues in 19 States

As of last week, nineteen states are still without final districts. The redistricting process went smoothly and quickly in some states, but in others, maps are already in courts and others will be soon.

In Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer led a(n initially) successful charge to oust the chairwoman of the state’s independent commission. However, the Arizona Supreme Court overturned her decision, leaving some to speculate that the governor could still have her removed at a future date. Nevertheless, once finalized, many expect Arizona's maps to be challenged in court.

Based on the 2010 Census figures, Texas gained four additional representatives in the House. However, last week a federal court rejected the legislature's newly drawn lines, claiming they did not appropriately reflect Latino populations. This is nothing new, as Texas' maps have been challenged in court every decade for the past half century.

With presidential primaries beginning in early January, time is running out for states to finalize districts ahead of 2012.

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Upcoming Webinar: Making a Plan for 2012

Our final webinar of 2011 will start you thinking about next year's general election and how your nonprofit can maximize your impact with the resources you already have.

Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012
Thursday December 1st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

The 2012 presidential election will be here soon, and it's time to start thinking about your nonprofit's plan for registering, educating, and engaging voters. This webinar will cover when, where, and how to incorporate voter engagement activities into your work. We'll also help you develop and tailor a 2012 voter engagement timeline for your organization. Don't miss this opportunity to start building a voter engagement plan for 2012 now!

New Report on Turnout Gaps in 2010 Midterm

We're pleased to announce that our new voter turnout report, Voter Participation Gaps in the 2010 Midterm Election, is now available! It is the latest in our America Goes to the Polls series, and is based on the newly released biennial Census survey on voting and registration. The report tracks, analyzes, and explains income, age, education, and disability voting gaps. Prominent turnout gaps include:

• Age - 24% of youth (ages 18-29) turned out in 2010, a sharp drop from 51.1% in 2008.
• Household Income - There was a 20 point turnout gap between members of lower income and higher income households.
• Educational Attainment - Only 35% of those with a high school diploma or less turned out in 2010, compared to 61% of those with a college degree or more.
• Mobility - There was a 34 point turnout gap between individuals who had resided in their home for less than a year (28%) and those who had resided in their home for at least 5 years (62%).
• Disability - The survey included data on voters with disabilities and found that turnout among individuals with hearing difficulty actually exceeded turnout for those with no disability by 4 points.

Download the report to learn more about voting gaps. Then visit the Resources section of our website to see how your nonprofit can help close them.

Voter ID Passes in Mississippi

On Tuesday, Mississippi voters passed a constitutional amendment that requires voters to show government issued photo identification in order to vote. The initiative includes provisions for free photo IDs, but as with all photo ID laws, the impact on voters will depend on implementation. Although many of the states that passed voter ID laws this year offer free IDs, voters still face hurdles in acquiring proper ID.

Last month, a 91-year-old Tennessee woman couldn't get a photo ID because she was physically unable to stand in a long line. A South Carolina man does not have an official birth certificate (he was born at home in 1926) and was therefore denied a free state ID. It would cost $150 for him to get the underlying documents necessary to secure a "free" ID. In Wisconsin, Department of Transportation employees are not allowed to tell residents about the free photo ID for voting, unless the individual specifically asks.

However, not all states make voter ID overly burdensome. For example, in Michigan, voters who show up without photo ID can still vote a regular ballot if they sign an affidavit. State-by-state variations in voter ID laws make it impossible to determine how the amendment will affect voters in Mississippi, and if they will be able to get proper ID in time to vote.

Your nonprofit can ensure that no one misses the opportunity to vote because of ID requirements--help your clients and constituents learn more about voter ID in your state.

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Voting Rights Victory in Maine

We'll have a more complete summary of 2011 election results later, but we just couldn't wait to share Maine's victory! Yesterday, Maine voters decided to restore Election Day Registration (EDR)--leaving an almost 40 year tradition unbroken. Sixty percent of voters supported EDR, and have made it possible for future voters to register and cast their ballots on Election Day.

We're pleased to celebrate this voting rights victory and want to congratulate the organizations and volunteers that were able to put the issue before voters in just a few short months.

For more on other 2011 ballot measure results, visit Ballotpedia.

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Convenience Improves Turnout

At Nonprofit VOTE, we support and advocate for election systems and practices that make voting easier, more convenient, and allow a greater number of people to participate.

So we were glad to hear about a new paper by political scientists from Rice University and the University of Alabama called "Voting at Non-Precinct Polling Places: A Review and Research Agenda".

The researchers found that the convenience of Election Day voting centers--polling locations that combine multiple precincts and give voters options when deciding where to cast their ballot--can increase turnout.

Robert Stein, one of the paper's authors, said that "Over the last 3-5 years, research has revealed that implementation of voting centers has led to up to a 10 percent increase in not only voter turnout, but turnout of people who wouldn't normally vote."

Because of their size and accessibility, voting centers give voters the opportunity to vote somewhere that's more central to their daily routine, and thus increases the likelihood that they will vote. Stein suggests that voting centers work best in low-density urban areas and are most appealing to voters who are less likely to vote due to hectic schedules.

The findings of "Voting at Non-Precinct Polling Places" underscore the positive impact of voting centers, and are a helpful reminder that we can make voting more accessible to everyone through strategic election administration choices.

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November 2011 Election Resources

Many voters will be heading to the polls on Tuesday. Make sure you're prepared for Election Day and know where you're voting, what's on the ballot, and where to turn if you have questions. Remember that you may be able to cast your ballot early either in-person or by mail, depending on where you live. Remind your friends and family to vote, and remember Election Day should be fun!

• Find your polling location using our Voting in Your State online guide.
• Protect your right to vote. If you have problems voting on Election Day, call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) or Ve y vota at 888-VE-Y-VOTA (839-8682).
• Locate other election information and voter engagement resources on our website.

Happy voting!

November 2011 Election Roundup

Yesterday was Election Day in Colorado, although voters in most states and municipalities will not be heading to the polls until next Tuesday, November 8. However, Colorado is not the first state to kick off election season a little early.

Gubernatorial and State Legislative Elections
Louisiana has already (re)elected Governor Bobby Jindal in a nonpartisan blanket primary on October 22, but voters will return to the polls on November 19 to elect new state legislators. Like Louisiana, Mississippi holds elections for both its governor and state legislature in odd numbered years. Kentucky voters will also elect their governor, while New Jersey and Virginia are holding state legislative elections.

Ballot Measures
Nine states have statewide ballot measures this year. Texas tops the group with a total of 10 measures. Louisiana voters already decided the outcome of five ballot measures during their October election, but will have to vote on a final constitutional amendment later this month. Yesterday, Colorado voters rejected a proposed increase to the state income and sales tax.

In Mississippi there are three controversial ballot measures dealing with abortion, voter ID, and eminent domain. And as we've mentioned before, there is a veto referendum in Maine that could restore Election Day Registration, as well as one in Ohio that could repeal SB 5--legislation signed in March that would limit collective bargaining for the state's public employees. Learn more about the 2011 ballot measures on Ballotpedia.

Mayoral Races
Many cities will be holding mayoral elections next week. Don't know if yours is one of them? Find out by visiting the U.S. Conference of Mayors' election center.

October Webinar Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined last Thursday's webinar, States Move to Restrict Voting: How Nonprofits Can Protect the Right to Vote. And a special thanks to Megan Donovan and Ellis Jacobs for sharing their expertise with us.

The presentation and associated materials are now available: Watch the presentation online (with audio) or download the PowerPoint and audio file. If you have additional questions about voter suppression and voting rights, please feel free to contact our presenters:

Megan Donovan
Staff Attorney, Fair Elections Legal Network
mdonovan@fairelectionsnetwork.com

Ellis Jacobs
Senior Attorney, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality
ejacobs@ablelaw.org

FELN creates regular Voter Suppression Updates, which are posted on their blog along with other news and updates. We also mentioned these two reports from the Brennan Center for Justice:

• Citizens without Proof: A Survey of Americans' Possession of Documentary Proof of Citizenship and Photo Identification
• The Cost of Voter ID Laws: What the Courts Say, which contains a section on what states need to do to educate voters

Voter Beware!

Halloween's approach means that the polls will soon be open—and in some states already are.

While young trick-or-treaters are dreaming about candy, scary stories, and haunted houses, their parents are contemplating more practical matters. Do you know our home phone number? Who will you be out with? What’s your trick-or-treating route? Safe Halloween practices are a lot like good election practices.

You don't take—or at least don't eat—unwrapped candy from strangers, and you don't wander off on your own. In the same vein, voters must be wary of efforts to spread misinformation, such as suspicious phone calls and fake websites.

Recent events have elections administrators reminding voters to get information from official sources, like Nonprofit VOTE's resources on registering and voting in your state that link directly to official state election sites. Get information straight from the source and protect yourself this election season. And remember, if you have any questions or doubts, just give your local elections office a call.

As with all holiday preparations, these practices shouldn't put a damper on the celebratory mood. There's no reason to expect anything but a frightfully good time, but just the same, you should be prepared. Happy voting!

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Register Now for Thursday's Webinar

There's still time to register for this week's webinar on recent election law changes!

States Move to Restrict Voting - How Nonprofits Can Defend the Right to Vote
Thursday October 27th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

2011 has seen an unprecedented nationwide effort to pass legislation that creates voter registration barriers and limits access to the polls. New laws require voters to provide photo ID at the polls, mandate proof of citizenship before registering to vote, and place severe restrictions on third party voter registration drives. These new regulations have the potential to disenfranchise millions of Americans, and will disproportionately affect lower-income, minority, youth, and older voters. Join us for a discussion of these troubling trends and efforts to counter them.

Featured Presenter: Megan Donovan is a staff attorney with the Fair Elections Legal Network. She has also worked as a legislative advocate for the Center for Reproductive Rights and a contract attorney for The Campaign Legal Center.

2012 Nonprofit Campaign Underway in Arizona

More than 150 nonprofit leaders gathered in Phoenix earlier this month to kick off a year-long campaign to increase voter participation in the 2012 elections and “Reclaim Our Community's Power.” The event was designed to inspire and equip nonprofits and other community-based organizations to conduct nonpartisan voter engagement in 2012.

Nonprofit VOTE's Lindsey Hodel was a keynote speaker, and one participant blogged that "she inspired the audience with her innovative and pioneer experiences." Lindsey called on participants to "voterize" their organizations--both for the benefit of their clients and for their missions.

Although nonprofits cannot support or oppose candidates, they can most certainly help people register and vote. By doing so, nonprofits can ensure that elected officials are representative of our communities and that public policy reflects the community's needs. The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits noted that "For too many years, most nonprofits have not seized the opportunity presented by elections to shape the communities they serve." That is no longer true in Arizona. The Arizona nonprofit community has committed to registering, informing, and activating voters, demonstrating how easy it is to create a "powerful political force."

Momentum is already gathering in Arizona, but what about in your state? It's never to early to start thinking about 2012. Sign up for our newsletter and stay connected as we cover ways your nonprofit can get involved!

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New Hurdles: States Restrict Voting Rights

Earlier this month, the Brennan Center published a new report on "Voting Law Changes in 2012" that details and analyzes the bills that have been proposed and passed since the beginning of this year. Most have made it much more difficult for citizens to both register and vote.

Restrictions have come in many forms, including:

• Photo ID requirements. Some states require voters to show government-issued photo ID that as many as one in ten voters do not have.
• Cuts to early voting, a hugely popular innovation used by millions of Americans. 
• Proof of citizenship laws that require a voter to provide proof of citizenship in order to register.
• Reversals of felon disenfranchisement reforms. Once again millions of individuals with past criminal convictions will be barred from participating in the political process. In fact, the report states that "Disenfranchisement after criminal conviction remains the single most significant barrier to voting rights in the United States."

The Brennan Center estimates that more than five million Americans could be affected by the new rules already put in place this year. The report also found that the restrictions will most heavily burden "young, minority, and low-income voters, as well as…voters with disabilities"—the populations that many of our nonprofits serve and "who have been historically locked out of our electoral system."

While many laws have been passed, some have faced fierce resistance from voters. In Ohio and Maine, citizen campaigns have forced referendums on new election laws in both states.

For more on this year's restrictive voting laws, tune in for our October 27th webinar, States Restrict Voting: How Nonprofits Can Defend the Right to Vote. In the meantime, encourage your clients to register to vote and ensure that they understand your state's laws.

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October Webinar: Defending the Right to Vote

Our October webinar will address new election laws that make it difficult for countless voters to register and cast their ballot. Many nonprofits are now wondering how to best help their clients participate under the new rules, but are also seeking information on how they can fight back against restrictive voting laws.

States Move to Restrict Voting - How Nonprofits Can Defend the Right to Vote
Thursday October 27th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

2011 has seen an unprecedented nationwide effort to pass legislation that creates voter registration barriers and limits access to the polls. New laws require voters to provide photo ID at the polls, mandate proof of citizenship before registering to vote, and place severe restrictions on third party voter registration drives. (In some states, these laws have not yet been implemented and are under review by the Justice Department to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act.) These new regulations have the potential to disenfranchise millions of Americans, and will disproportionately affect lower-income, minority, youth, and older voters. Join us for a discussion of these troubling trends and efforts to counter them.

Featured Presenter: Megan Donovan is a staff attorney with the Fair Elections Legal Network. She has also worked as a legislative advocate for the Center for Reproductive Rights and a contract attorney for The Campaign Legal Center.

New Hampshire Primary Project Returns

The New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, in partnership with the National Council of Nonprofits, is once again sponsoring the 2012 Primary Project, a presidential candidate education initiative. The Project empowers members of the nonprofit and civic sector to engage candidates campaigning in New Hampshire, while also raising candidate and public awareness of the impact and importance of the nonprofit sector. See what they did in 2008.

At its official September kickoff, the Center brought in two seasoned party activists--one who served as a traveling adviser for McCain's 2008 campaign and the other who worked for Obama's New Hampshire team. Although they disagreed on politics, both guests expressed a desire to see greater nonprofit and community involvement in the political process.

This month the Center will be holding two trainings for nonprofits and community members interested in participating. They'll address what nonprofits can do, how to stay nonpartisan, and tactical advice for shining a spotlight on the nonprofit sector.

The Project will continue through the primary season and transition into more general voter engagement in the lead up to November's general election. This nonpartisan initiative does an incredible job of utilizing New Hampshire's political relevance to champion nonprofit voter engagement, and can hopefully inspire similar projects in other states.

New Census Data on 2010 Election

The Census Bureau has released data on "Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2010" that compares voting and registration patterns by demographic, social, and geographic characteristics. This release is the latest in a series of national reports that is one of the most frequently cited sources for registration and turnout data.

Last year, Hispanics comprised 7% of voters, the highest percentage ever for a non-presidential election. The percentage of non-Hispanic white voters was 77.5%, down from 80.4% in 2006. Tiffany Julian of the Census Bureau's Education and Social Stratification Branch noted that "The electorate looks much different than when we first started collecting these data 37 years ago," yet turnout and registration rates still do not mirror the nation's growing diversity.

There are persistent voting gaps for many of the populations that nonprofits serve. In addition to racial and ethnic gaps, economic gaps remain stark: People in families who earned $100,000 or more were more than twice as likely to vote as those who lived with families earning less than $20,000. Homeowners were more likely to both register and vote than renters.

Based on this data, Nonprofit VOTE will be issuing a report next month that details registration and turnout gaps, along with other relevant information for the nonprofit community. In the meantime, check out the full data files from the Census Bureau.

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Ohio Election Law Suspended

A controversial Ohio election law (HB 194) set to take effect on Friday has been suspended, pending the outcome of a November 2012 referendum.

If implemented, the law would prohibit counties from mailing out unsolicited absentee ballot applications, end the "golden week" when people can register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, and reduce the number of early voting days.

Opponents of HB 194 gathered 318,460 petition signatures in support of a referendum to overturn the law. 231,147 of the signatures must be verified in order for the law to remain suspended and for the issue to be placed before voters in 2012. Secretary of State Jon Husted said the verification process will not be completed before this fall's election.

In other good news, as the law has been suspended, early voting for the November 8 election begins today. Happy Election Day Buckeyes!

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Last Week's Webinar

Thanks to everyone who joined last week's webinar, the ABCs of Nonpartisan Voter Registration for Nonprofits!

The presentation and associated materials are now available: Watch the presentation online (with audio) or download the PowerPoint and audio file. If you have additional questions about voter registration, please feel free to contact our presenters:

Bridgette Rongitsch
Program Lead, Grassroots Solutions
Email: Bridgette@grassrootssolutions.com

Julian Johannesen
Director of Research and Technology, Nonprofit VOTE
Phone: (617) 357-8683
Email: julian@nonprofitvote.org

Several resources were mentioned during the webinar, including:

•  Nonprofit Voter Engagement Research
• Voter Registration and Voting in Your State
• "Register to Vote" Poster
• Voter Registration Toolkit for Nonprofits and Social Service Agencies 

We also suggested a couple nonpartisan sites where you can learn more about political parties and candidates:

• Project Vote Smart
• OpenSecrets.org 

Connecticut Looks to Improve Elections

Last week we cheered California legislators who passed laws that will make it easier to register to vote. Now we want to shine a spotlight on the other coast. In Connecticut, Secretary of State Denise Merrill is looking to build support for election improvements that would incorporate technology and cut costs. She wants to create a more "centralized" election system and encourage greater youth participation. Merrill also expressed support for a constitutional amendment that would allow early voting--an option Connecticut cannot even currently consider because of the state constitution's restrictive wording.

In discussing her ideas for improving elections in Connecticut, Secretary Merrill emphasized preparedness-- particularly in light of last year's midterm election when some Bridgeport polling sites ran out of ballots. What's your Secretary of State doing--or not--to improve elections?

Register for Thursday's Webinar

There's still time to register for our September voter registration webinar! 

The ABCs of Nonpartisan Voter Registration
Thursday September 29th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Registering to vote is the first and most necessary step to becoming an active and engaged voter. This webinar will explain how your nonprofit can conduct effective, nonpartisan voter registration, emphasizing on-site strategies. Our discussion will help you decide what makes the most sense for your nonprofit given staffing, time, and other constraints. We will also share Nonprofit VOTE's new Voter Registration Toolkit and other online resources that will help you plan and execute successful voter registration activities.

Featured Presenter: Bridgette Rongitsch is a consultant with Grassroots Solutions, a firm that helps nonprofits, campaigns, and other groups organize, train, and mobilize grassroots supporters. She is the former national director of Nonprofit VOTE and previously worked as an organizer for the Minnesota Participation Project.

Saudi Women to Vote in 2015

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia's king granted women the right to vote and run for office in future municipal elections.

Although the change is welcomed by many activists, concerns still remain. The new law will not be relevant until the next election cycle in 2015. (Current municipal elections are scheduled for this Thursday.) And while senior religious scholars have endorsed the move, many are worried about the law's enforcement--particularly when many men prohibit their female relations from participating in legal activities.

Despite the fact that women will be allowed to participate in elections, they still do not have the right to drive and are required to have male chaperones for most public activities.

Nevertheless, this is an impressive move forward for women in Saudi Arabia, with one woman noting that "It is a good sign, and we have to take advantage of it…But we still need more rights."

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Voter Registration Initiatives in California

September has been an exciting and busy month for voter registration legislation in California. The state passed two new registration laws which will make the registration process more accessible. Their passage is yet another reason we're excited to celebrate voter registration this month. 

The first bill allows "new citizens"--individuals who became citizens during the two weeks before Election Day--to both register and vote at a designated location in the two weeks preceding Election Day, as well as on Election Day itself. The second bill allows county elections officials to move ahead in developing their own online registration systems. California is currently developing a statewide registration database that will enable online registration, but due to various issues, it is still a few years away from completion.

Congrats to California for expanding voter registration opportunities! 

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New Partner Spotlight

We'd like to welcome our newest partner, Lutheran Services in America, to the Nonprofit VOTE network. Lutheran Services in America and their 300 health and human services affiliates offer an array of services including health care, aging and disability support, community development, housing, and child and family strengthening. Every year, their work touches the lives of more than six million Americans.

Nonprofit VOTE is proud to partner with a variety of national, regional, statewide, and local nonprofit organizations, associations, and conveners. Nonprofit VOTE's partners are at the forefront of voter and civic engagement work in their communities and they support an integrated voter engagement model that allows them to more fully meet the needs of their clients and constituents. Their leadership demonstrates the profound impact the nonprofit and civic sector can have on the political process. We're pleased to add Lutheran Services to our growing list of national partners.

Wisconsin Board Sticks up for Students Being Allowed to Vote

From Electionline.org

A Wisconsin election board oks special stickers to help students with a new law passed this year in Wisconsin that makes their current students IDs invalid as ID to vote on Election Day.

"The Government Accountability Board, which overseas elections for the state of Wisconsin, unanimously adopted a policy this week that said universities could put stickers on existing student IDs to include information necessary to make the IDs compliant with the state’s new voter ID law. Many of the state’s student IDs do not include signatures or an expiration date which is required by the state’s voter ID law. The stickers will allow students to use their IDs without universities having to completely overhaul their ID systems."

September Webinar: Voter Registration for Nonprofits

As you may have heard, September is our favorite voter registration month, and it's this month's webinar topic too!

The ABCs of Nonpartisan Voter Registration
Thursday September 29th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Registering to vote is the first and most necessary step to becoming an active and engaged voter. This webinar will explain how your nonprofit can conduct effective, nonpartisan voter registration, emphasizing on-site strategies. Our discussion will help you decide what makes the most sense for your nonprofit given staffing, time, and other constraints. We will also share Nonprofit VOTE's new Voter Registration Toolkit and other online tools that will help you plan and execute successful voter registration activities.

Featured Presenter: Bridgette Rongitsch is a consultant with Grassroots Solutions, a firm that helps nonprofits, campaigns, and other groups organize, train, and mobilize grassroots supporters. She is the former national director of Nonprofit VOTE and previously worked as an organizer for the Minnesota Participation Project.

Do Nonprofit Staff Vote?

Survey says…yes!

Earlier this year, the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) polled 560 nonprofit staff members to learn more about the sector's voting patterns. Respondents included 114 "executive and senior managers" and 446 "line-staff personnel," described as mid-managers, caseworkers, program and clerical staff, etc.

100% of executive and senior managers reported being registered to vote, along with 92% of line-staff. Overall, nonprofit staff were 49% more likely to be registered than the average Santa Clara county resident, where the survey was conducted. In California's 2010 midterm election, nonprofit staff turnout was 21% higher than the county average. In 2008 it was 12% higher.

In California's 2010 midterm election--which featured gubernatorial candidates--turnout among nonprofit staff was 21% higher than the rate for all county residents. In 2008 it was 12% higher. These participation rates help make the case for the sector's importance and impact, and it can also send a message to elected officials.

This study is exciting because there is almost no information on the voting habits of nonprofit staff. This data, along with other emerging research is building the quantitative case for what we already know anecdotally--that the nonprofit sector is a key player in the voter and civic participation field. Although the numbers are likely inflated due to an overestimation of self-reported behavior, Census surveys have found that the margin of error for voting questions is only a few percentage points.

Still, there are gaps to close within our ranks: respondents who identified themselves as Asian or Pacific Islander were about 12% less likely to be registered than other groups surveyed. Black respondents were about 29% less likely to have voted in the 2010 midterm election.

Nevertheless, it is safe to say that many nonprofit employees are already voting. While we often focus on the voting behavior of clients and constituents, your organization can also ensure all staff members are registered to vote by including a registration form in the paperwork for all new hires or adding a reminder to paycheck envelopes. Visit our website for materials and ideas.

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New Voter Registration Toolkit

Many states and municipalities have upcoming registration deadlines, so it's the perfect time to talk about one of our favorite voter engagement basics--voter registration!

We're pleased to present our new Voter Registration Toolkit for Nonprofits and Social Service Agencies. This toolkit describes the role nonprofits can play in registering voters and comes with:

• Seven Basic Principles for Agency-Based Voter Registration. This outline is accompanied by an easy-to-use checklist to help you plan and track your registration activities.
• A "Register to Vote" poster, available in either English or Spanish, to help you publicize your registration efforts.
• Seven Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Register Voters. This handout describes how voter registration benefits your organization, your clients, and your community.
• An online guide to voter registration for all 50 states. It includes information on eligibility and registration deadlines, links to check your registration status or download a registration form, and contact information for state and local elections officials.

The toolkit is available in both English and Spanish. Download the toolkit and associated materials directly from our website or order a print copy.

Putting It to a Vote

It's official. Question 1 will appear on the Maine ballot this November.

Earlier this year we reported that a new law had ended almost four decades of Election Day Registration (EDR) in Maine. But EDR supporters mounted a whirlwind campaign, spearheaded by the Protect Maine Votes coalition, to repeal the law and restore Election Day Registration.

They had less than a month to collect more than 57,000 signatures in order to put the issue before voters this November. They submitted over 70,000 signatures and today the secretary of state confirmed that the referendum will move forward. 

Now that it's officially on the ballot, supporters will have to make their case to voters who will answer the question, "Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election?"

Hopefully it won't be too difficult given EDR's popularity: almost 60,000 Maine voters used it in November 2008, along with 18,000 voters in the 2010 midterm.

Congrats to the Protect Maine Votes coalition on this victory--hopefully a taste of what's to come. 

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