Candidate Forum Webinar Materials

Last week's webinar, Engage Candidates and Build Clout: How to Host a Candidate Forum, is now available! Thank you to our wonderful presenter, Cheryl Crawford of MassVOTE.

You can watch the presentation on YouTube, and if you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse all of our candidate engagement resources.

If you're interested in conducting voter registration, register for our upcoming webinar on June 14th, Ready, Set, Register: Nonprofit Voter Registration. RSVP today!

Learn How to Host a Candidate Forum

Consider hosting a candidate forum to kick off your 2012 voter engagement efforts! It benefits both your organization and your constituents and can take your work to the next level. Register for Thursday's webinar to learn more:

Engage Candidates and Build Clout: How to Host a Candidate Forum 
Thursday May 24th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Hosting a nonpartisan candidate forum gives your nonprofit the opportunity to educate candidates on the issues that matter to your organization and the communities you serve. By hosting or co-sponsoring a candidate forum, your organization can build relationships with future elected officials, making it easier to hold them accountable and giving you greater access to them once in office. Join us to learn more about techniques for organizing an effective candidate forum, how to stay nonpartisan throughout the process, and for tools to help you every step of the way.

Featured Presenter: Cheryl Crawford grew up in Boston and has worked for many years in communities of color advocating for both voting and civil rights. She is the Co-Director of MassVOTE and directs their Democracy for Nonprofits program. She also sits on the Executive Board of the NAACP-Boston Branch as second Vice President and is the Chair of the Board of Emerge Massachusetts.

Simple Strategies to Increase Turnout

A recent briefing by Todd Rogers--a Harvard professor and former founding executive director of the Analyst Institute--synthesized research and data on effective voter turnout strategies. Many of the findings can be applied to nonprofit voter engagement efforts, helping us strategically nudge voters to the polls on Election Day.

While it's important to raise the profile of the election and make ongoing announcements about dates and deadlines, try to make your one-on-one conversations about the election more personal. Prompt your clients to think through the logistical details of their plans for voting--such as when they intend to head to the polls, how they will get there, and what they will be doing beforehand. This type of conversation is twice as effective (among single-voter households) as simply asking people if they intend to vote. (Rogers suggested that voters who lived with other voters were already more likely to discuss their Election Day plans as part of everyday life.)

Additionally, negative messaging--like lamenting low turnout--can be counterproductive and is unlikely to motivate voters. Instead, emphasize that turnout is expected to be high--this approach particularly impacts infrequent or occasional voters.

We've already reported on the difference between the importance of "being a voter" and the importance of "voting"--so think about how to phrase conversations with clients in a way that frames them as voters, rather than just asking them to vote.

Although this information can help inform your voter engagement work, don't be afraid to try new strategies and figure out what works best for your nonprofit. And if you have a tactic that's particularly effective, share it!

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Partner Spotlight: Girls Inc. She Votes

She Votes 2010 participants in Santa Barbara, California.
Photo Courtesy of Girls Inc.

One of our national partners, Girls Inc., offers a variety of programs aimed to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold by equipping them to achieve academically, manage money, navigate media messages, lead healthy and physically active lives, and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. Each year they serve 150,000 girls, ages 6-18.

Although they aren't yet eligible to vote, Girls Inc. is celebrating girls' voices. Since 2004, Girls Inc. affiliates across the country have been hosting mock elections through their She Votes initiative, actively engaging girls in elections and the political process. In 2010, more than 3,600 girls across the country participated in a mock election coinciding with the November midterm.

Not only did the girls get to vote on a national Girls Inc. ballot initiative, but many local chapters also included mock elections for Governor, Congress, and local offices. In Omaha, Nebraska, girls had the opportunity to use real voting machines, and in Shelbyville, Indiana, the girls campaigned among themselves to be elected President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

In Tarrant County, Texas, the mock election raised questions about the nature and purpose of elections with one girl asking "Why is voting secret? Is it to prevent voters from cheating off of one another?" These and other conversations helped participants better appreciate the importance of voting. She Votes also creates excitement around elections--with girls running through the door on Election Day and applauding for one another as they drop their ballots into the box.

While Girls Inc. focuses on direct service, they also appreciate the need for broader action through advocacy. Girls Inc. recognizes that public policy affects girls' everyday lives and opportunities, and that they can inform those policies. Although encouraging civic participation is not the focus of their work, programs like She Votes empower girls to speak for themselves and show that voter engagement can complement any public service mission.

Every election is a teachable moment, particularly because Girls Inc. wants girls to become active and engaged citizens and leaders. Their She Votes initiative shows that it's never too early to prepare future voters or inspire future candidates!

Four Reasons to Host a Candidate Forum

Although it is a valuable piece of nonprofit voter engagement, candidate engagement if often overlooked. But whether your organization is well-versed in voter participation or is just getting started, engaging candidates can benefit both your organization and your constituents.

Hosting a candidate forum can take your efforts to the next level by:

1. Making your issue a campaign issue. Hosting a candidate forum puts a spotlight on your organization and your issues.
2. Raising the profile of your voters. The community you serve is worth noticing--make sure candidates know who they are! 
3. Building partnerships and cultivating collaborations. Candidate forums are a great way to team up with other organizations and build fruitful relationships.
4. Encouraging civic habits. A forum mobilizes and educates your constituents by connecting them with the candidates; it can also encourage other types of participation!

Get started by targeting your race, finding partners, and building interest! For more, download our Guide to Hosting a Candidate forum or register for our May 24th webinar. Don't want to organize a candidate forum but still want to engage candidates? Browse all of our resources on candidate engagement for other ideas on how to get involved this election cycle!

The Benefits of Election Day Registration

With Connecticut joining the ranks of Election Day (or Same Day) Registration states, let's review how expanded registration opportunities make it possible for more people to participate. In 2010 Same Day Registration allowed almost 640,000 Americans to register and vote in the November 2, 2010 election. Moreover, states that allow for Same Day Registration consistently lead the nation in voter turnout.

A Demos factsheet highlights stats from the 2010 midterm elections and notes that average turnout in the nine states (and D.C.) with Same Day Registration was nearly 6 percentage points higher than in states without it.

2010 was the first time the District of Columbia used Same Day Registration after enacting it in 2009, while in Idaho Election Day registrants accounted for nearly 10% of ballots cast.

More than 23,000 New Hampshire residents registered and voted on Election Day in 2010, while almost 9,000 Wyoming residents used Same Day Registration to participate.

Maine and Minnesota both employ Election Day Registration and led the nation in voter turnout in the 2010 midterm with rates 15 percentage points higher than the national average. Turnout in Wisconsin and Iowa, who both have Same Day Registration, was 10 percentage points higher than the national average.

Nearly 10,000 Montana citizens registered and voted during the state's "late registration" period, which runs from the close of the regular registration period up to and including Election Day. In North Carolina turnout in the 2010 midterm was 8 percentage points higher than in the 2006 midterm. Nearly 40,000 voters used Same Day Registration to update their voter registration records and vote, along with an additional 21,000 new registrants.

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Don't Be Shy, Engage the Candidates!

Our next webinar is a great opportunity to learn about one of the ways nonprofits can engage candidates on a nonpartisan basis!

Engage Candidates and Build Clout: How to Host a Candidate Forum
Thursday May 24th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Hosting a nonpartisan candidate forum gives your nonprofit the opportunity to educate candidates on the issues that matter to your organization and the communities you serve. By hosting or co-sponsoring a candidate forum, your organization can build relationships with future elected officials, making it easier to hold them accountable and giving you greater access to them once in office. Join us to learn more about techniques for organizing an effective candidate forum, how to stay nonpartisan throughout the process, and for tools to help you every step of the way.

Featured Presenter: Cheryl Crawford grew up in Boston and has worked for many years in communities of color advocating for both voting and civil rights. She is the Co-Director of MassVOTE and directs their Democracy for Nonprofits program. She also sits on the Executive Board of the NAACP-Boston Branch as second Vice President and is the Chair of the Board of Emerge Massachusetts.

Access Yesterday's Ballot Measure Webinar Materials

Yesterday's webinar, Taking a Stand: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits, is now available! Thank you to our wonderful presenters, Nayantara Mehta, Senior Counsel at the Alliance for Justice, West Coast and Cathy Johnston, Advocacy Director at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, for joining us!

You can watch the presentation on YouTube, and if you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse all of our resources on nonprofits and ballot measures.

If you're interested in dipping your toes into candidate engagement, register for our upcoming webinar on May 24th, Engage Candidates and Build Clout: How to Host a Candidate Forum. RSVP today!

LA County Takes Strategic Look at Elections

Last fall the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk--overseeing the largest voting district in the country with over four million voters--announced that it would completely overhaul its election system over the next five years.

Before making any decisions, however, they wanted to know what voters thought about elections. They surveyed more than 1,000 voters and more than 1,000 poll workers, as well as city clerks and county staff, asking participants what they liked about the current voting system and what they'd like to see in the future. The county also got input from various stakeholders like advocates for persons with disabilities and those with limited English skills.

Last week, the county hosted and live streamed one of their Voting Systems Project discussions, broadcasting ongoing updates and tweeting images from brainstorming sessions like a ballot receipt mockup and a sketch for drive-thru voting.

The county is sharing its survey findings with think tanks and other organizations in hopes that they may be used to design a better voting system. The goal is to have the new system functioning countywide in time for the presidential elections in 2016.

Elections are the vehicle through which citizens' voices are heard, so kudos to LA County for giving the public a say in how they can or can't cast their ballot. Read more about LA County's efforts.

Election Day Registration Coming to Connecticut

Earlier this year, we tracked legislation in Connecticut that would allow for online registration (with a valid and current driver's license) and Election Day Registration.

As of last weekend, it appears that Connecticut will get both. The bill, passed by both the House and the Senate, goes to Governor Malloy who plans to sign it, saying "People are the key to our democracy, and this legislation improves participation in the most fundamental way—the ballot box."

Election Day Registration has been supported by advocates of increasing turnout in Connecticut where one out of three eligible voters is not registered. Secretary of State Merrill said, "We have the technology to allow eligible voters to register online from any computer or mobile device, and we have the security in place to allow those late deciding, busy and mobile voters to register and cast ballots on Election Day."

Once signed into law, Connecticut will become the 10th state--in addition to the District of Columbia--to enact Election Day Registration. Learn more about voter registration in your state and read our Election Day Registration factsheet in English and Spanish.

Thursday: Ballot Measure Webinar

There's still time to register for this week's webinar! If you've already registered, consider inviting a friend or spreading the word among your networks--we want every nonprofit to feel comfortable engaging in ballot measure activities this year!

Taking a Stand: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits
Thursday May 10th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Many states put laws, constitutional amendments, and referendums on the ballot, asking voters to make critical public policy decisions at the polls. Often, the outcome directly affects our organizations and communities, so we have a vested interest in the results. Although nonprofits cannot endorse or oppose a candidate, they can take a stand on ballot measures. Learn how your nonprofit can benefit from engaging the public around ballot measures, as well as how to advance your advocacy efforts through ballot measure activity.

Featured Presenter: Nayantara Mehta is Senior Counsel with the Alliance for Justice,  working to help strengthen the capacity of the public interest community to influence public policy and engage around elections. She conducts trainings throughout the country on the rules governing advocacy and lobbying by public charities and private foundations.

California Nonprofits to "Vote with Your Mission"

On May 1st, the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) launched their Vote with Your Mission campaign with the goal of 100% participation among California's nonprofit staff and volunteers in the upcoming June and November elections.

What does "Vote with Your Mission" mean? CalNonprofits explains that "all of us have come to work and volunteer in nonprofits because we have ideals about changing the world. Whatever those ideals are, use your vote to further them."

CalNonprofits paves the way by clarifying Frequently Asked Legal Questions and providing a variety of election information and a Vote with Your Mission Campaign Kit. By joining the campaign, nonprofits pledge to complete at least two tasks--such as putting up a poster in a visible area, providing on-site voter registration materials, adopting the "Vote with Your Mission" slogan, and more.

Participants are encouraged to reach out to other nonprofits and CalNonprofits even provides a sample email. Already, over 60 nonprofits have signed on, with more joining daily. This type of leadership in the nonprofit community is helping to steer voter engagement toward the mainstream.

But you don't have to be a California nonprofit to join the voter engagement movement or to encourage your affiliates to vote with your mission! Browse Nonprofit VOTE's materials for ideas on how to get started. Just don't wait until it's too late--prepare for this year's election(s) now!

Tied Down by Tuesday?

Next week voters in Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia will head to the polls to vote on federal and state offices in addition to a number of ballot questions. (Visit Ballotpedia for more on what's on the ballot in every state this year.)

But before Tuesday rolls around, Why Tuesday uses a new infographic to examine the impact of voting on Tuesday.

It suggests that having Election Day on a Tuesday may be stifling U.S. voter turnout, noting that our national turnout rates trail those of countries that have Election Day on either a weekend or designate it as a holiday. It also notes that in every U.S. election since 1996, the number one reason voters gave for not casting a ballot was "too busy/couldn’t get time off to vote" and that in 2010 27% of voters gave this answer.

Increasing turnout probably won't require that we drop Tuesday altogether, but we should be seeking ways to expand access to the ballot through early in-person voting opportunities (including weekends) and simplified vote-by-mail options. Of course there's a role for nonprofits as well: we can help increase turnout by reminding our clients of the upcoming election, answering questions, and offering to help locate their polling place.

If your jurisdiction has an election next week, ask your constituents to think about their plans for voting, or suggest that they take their kids along to see what elections are all about. Whether or not we vote on Tuesday, we can still help ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate!

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Georgia to Comply with the NVRA

Georgia recently settled a lawsuit brought by a coalition of voting rights groups to force compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and ensure that anyone applying for state public assistance or disability support is offered the opportunity to register to vote.

In Georgia, it's clear there's plenty of room for improvement. A recent report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission found that between 2009 and 2010, Georgia had an estimated 6.7 million eligible voters, of which 5.7 million (86%) were registered. Of those registrations, 279 were done at state public assistance agencies, 19 at disability service agencies, and 569 at other state agencies.

We've written about similar victories and the enormous impact they've had in driving up the number or registrations. Registrations from Missouri public assistance agencies rose from fewer than 8,000 a year to an average of 115,000 per year after a 2008 settlement, and more than 380,000 low-income Ohioans have filled out registration forms since a suit was settled in 2009.

The results of these cases show that when people are offered the chance to register or re-register to vote, they take it! Let's make sure the nonprofit sector does our part to ensure that all eligible Americans are registered to vote this year! Visit our voter registration resources section, or sign up to be part of National Voter Registration Day on September 25, 2012 to learn how. 

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