Thank You for an Incredible 2013!

Before 2013 comes to a close, we want to a take a brief moment to thank our partners, our supporters, and nonprofits across the country for supporting voting.

2013 was an exciting year for Nonprofit VOTE:

• We debuted brand-new research on the impact of nonprofit voter engagement, including both turnout data and case studies. 
• The second annual National Voter Registration Day was once again endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State and embraced by secretaries of state across the country.
• We released the latest report in our America Goes to the Polls series as well as an accompanying report on voter turnout gaps. 
• We concluded another successful run of our annual webinar series, all of which can be watched anytime on our YouTube channel.

There will be plenty for nonprofits to do in 2014. In case you want to get a jump on things, you can register now for our January 23rd webinar on making a voter engagement plan.

Thank you for everything and Happy New Year from Nonprofit VOTE!

The State of Felon Disenfranchisement in 2013

Earlier this year, the Sentencing Project gave an update on felon disenfranchisement in the United States. Currently, 5.85 million Americans are prohibited from voting due to laws that disenfranchise citizens convicted of felony offenses. Only two states--Maine and Vermont--do not restrict the voting rights of anyone with a felony conviction, even while in prison.

However, incarcerated individuals represent a minority of the total disenfranchised population. In fact, 75% of disenfranchised voters live in their communities, either under probation or parole supervision or having completed their sentence. An estimated 2.6 million people are disenfranchised in states that restrict voting rights even after completion of sentence.

Public opinion surveys report that 8 in 10 U.S. residents support voting rights for citizens who have completed their sentence, and nearly two-thirds support voting rights for those on probation or parole. Since 1997, 23 states have modified laws to expand voter eligibility for ex-offenders and as a result an estimated 800,000 citizens regained the right to vote from 1997 to 2010.

Even in states where the voting rights of ex-offenders are restored, myths about ineligibility are often rampant. Know the law in your state and ensure that your organization is sharing current and accurate information with your community.

New Interactive Map from the Census Bureau

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released Census Explorer, a new interactive map that gives users easier access to neighborhood-level statistics.

The map uses the most current statistics, updated from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey. Topics currently available in Census Explorer include:

• Total population,
• Percent 65 and older,
• Foreign-born population percentage,
• Percent of the population with a high school degree or higher,
• Percent with a bachelor's degree or higher,
• Labor force participation rate,
• Home ownership rate, and
• Median household income.

In addition to these characteristics, more than 40 American Community Survey social, economic and housing topics are now available through the Census Bureau's data tool, American Factfinder. This includes the first release of local statistics for disability, marital history, VA service-connected disability, health insurance coverage, and year of naturalization. Don't wait, start exploring!

New Project Vote Policy Paper: Early Voting

Project Vote's map of early and absentee voting, 2013.

Last month, Project Vote released their latest policy paper, this one on Early Voting. Although voting has traditionally taken place on a single Election Day, in recent years many states have expanded opportunities to vote before Election Day--generally to accommodate voter schedules and in the hopes of increasing turnout. 

Early voting allows voters to cast their ballots in person but at alternative times and locations, in addition to on Election Day at their traditional polling place. It is now in use in 30 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Some states also offer no-excuse absentee voting, allowing voters to fill out and mail or deliver a ballot before Election Day--without having to provide a reason for voting absentee.

In the 2012 election, early voting and absentee voting together accounted for 30% or more of all votes cast in 21 of the states. In Florida, about 50% of ballots were cast early.

Read the policy paper for more information.

What We Learned in 2013

As 2013 ends, it's the perfect time to reflect on what we learned this year.

This summer, Nonprofit VOTE released a two-part report, Can Nonprofits Increase Voting Among Their Clients, Constituents, and Staff? An Evaluation of the Track the Vote Program. While Part I of the report showcases the impact of nonprofit voter engagement on turnout in 2012, Part II tells the story of the nonprofits that talked to their communities about voting. By tracking the contacts nonprofits made with voters, we found:

• Nonprofits were particularly effective at increasing voter turnout among groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the electoral process. Voter turnout of nonprofit voters compared to all registered voters was: 18 points higher for Latino voters, 15 points higher for voters under the age of 30, and 15 points higher for voters with household incomes under $25,000. 
• Disparities in voter turnout by age, income, race, and ethnicity narrowed or disappeared among voters engaged by the nonprofits compared to the large turnout gaps evident among registered voters. 
• The most successful nonprofits made their voter engagement plans early, giving them time to pilot their programs and make adjustments. 
• Staffing is a key consideration. This means not only having a staff lead organizing and planning activities, but also ensuring there is adequate staffing--provided internally or by a partner--to carry out the efforts. 

In addition to our findings, other organizations also reported on new voting insights:

• Turnout in states with Election Day Registration was 12.5 points higher than in states without it. Election Day Registration accounted for approximately 1 in 8 ballots cast on November 6, 2012 in the eight states (and DC) that allowed it at the time. 
• For young people without college experience, the existence of a photo ID law in their state predicted lower turnout in 2012. However, the same report found that same-day registration improved overall youth turnout. 
• Turnout among voters with disabilities was strong, despite difficulties. 30.1 percent of voters with disabilities reported difficulty in voting at a polling place, compared to 8.4% of voters without disabilities. Nevertheless, 15.6 million people with disabilities reported voting in the November 2012 elections, turning out at a rate 5.7 percentage points lower than that of people without disabilities. 
• 75 percent of disenfranchised voters live in their communities, either under probation or parole supervision or having completed their sentence. 5.85 million Americans are prohibited from voting due to laws that disenfranchise citizens convicted of felony offenses. However, since 1997, 23 states have modified felony disenfranchisement provisions to expand voter eligibility. As a result, from 1997 to 2010 an estimated 800,000 citizens have regained the right to vote.

January Webinar: Making a Plan for 2014

Midterm elections are next year and 35 Senate seats will be up for election along with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. At least 21 states will have state-wide ballot measures. Join our January webinar to ensure your nonprofit is prepared:

Plan Ahead 2014: Build a Voter Engagement Timeline for Your Nonprofit 
Thursday January 23rd at 2:00pm Eastern

The 2014 midterm elections will be here soon, and it's time to start thinking about your nonprofit's plan for registering, educating, and engaging voters. In this webinar we'll discuss when, where, and how to incorporate voter engagement activities into your work. We'll also help you develop and tailor a 2014 voter engagement timeline for your organization.

Featured Presenters: Lindsey Hodel is Nonprofit VOTE's National Field Director and has more than a decade of experience in public policy advocacy, community organizing, and nonprofit civic engagement efforts in the West and nationally. She also founded the Colorado Participation Project, a roundtable of direct service nonprofits engaged in client engagement programs. Julian Johannesen is Director of Research and Training at Nonprofit VOTE where he's worked on a variety of projects including the development and delivery of training to 501(c)(3) nonprofits interested in nonpartisan voter engagement work.
  

The IRS Moves to Limit Political Activity by 501(c)(4) Nonprofits

Election spending by 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organizations not required to disclose their donors mushroomed from a few million in 2006 to over $250 million in 2012.

On Thanksgiving eve, the IRS and Treasury department released a long awaited proposal to define and restrict the political activity of 501(c)(4) organizations. What are they proposing? Is it needed? How might this affect nonpartisan election activity of the vast majority of nonprofits who are 501(c)(3) charities - social service agencies, churches, civic groups and the like?

What are 501(c)(4) organizations?
501(c)(4)s are granted tax exempt status as nonprofit organizations operated for the promotion of social welfare that are "primarily" engaged in activities that advance the common good and general welfare of the people of the community "for the purpose of bringing about civic betterments and social improvements." It can include advocacy and lobbying related to the organization's exempt purpose. Unlike 501(c)(3) charities, contributions to 501(c)(4)s are not tax deductible. In the past (c)(4)s have been allowed to conduct a limited though not defined amount of political/election activity.

What's the IRS proposing?
See this IRS-Treasury press release for an outline of new rules to restrict partisan election activities aimed at electing or defeating candidates by 501(c)(4)s. They include common definitions of political activity like election intervention within 60 days of the election all the way to proposed restrictions on the ability of 501(c)(4)s to do even nonpartisan get out the vote or voter registration drives. The purpose is to create clear definitions on prohibited political activity to determine who can qualify for and maintain exempt status as a (c)(4) social welfare organization.

Is it needed?
Yes. Specific guidelines and clear definitions of political activity are long overdue to ensure 501(c)(4)s are actually set up primarily to promote social welfare and civic good, not election intervention. Recently, political operatives and millionaires have taken advantage of rules that allow 501(c)(4)s to hide the names of donors to vastly expand spending by 501(c)(4)s who spend almost all their money to support and oppose candidates. It makes a mockery of the "social welfare" purpose of (c)(4)s and undermines democracy.
 
What about proposed restrictions on 501(c)(4)s doing nonpartisan GOTV, voter registration, or even candidate forums?
It's just a proposal. Nonprofit VOTE and many others would defend the right of any entity to conduct nonpartisan political activity as a constitutional right and bedrock to encouraging participation in our democracy. While welcoming the new rules to protect and restore (c)(4)s to their original civic purpose, there's been a strong outcry by the Bright Lines Project, Bolder Advocacy and others in the field to this part of their proposal. 
 
When might new rules go into effect?
There will be a lengthy period of public comment. New rules won't be issued until after the 2014 election.

How does it affect 501(c)(3) nonprofits and charities?
It doesn't. The proposal is only for 501(c)(4)s. However, the debate over rules for 501(c)(4)s could unfortunately make some charities less likely to engage – such as helping people participate in elections, doing voter education, or connecting with candidates on issues on a nonpartisan basis. We would urge the opposite. Our nonpartisan approach and voice is needed more than ever.

To learn more, see these resources:

• Tax Prof Blog: Treasury, IRS Announce 'Crackdown' on Political Campaigning by Crossroads GPS, Other 501(c)(4) Groups
• Bolder Advocacy: Q and A on Proposed IRS Rules for 501(c)(4)s
• Bright Lines Project
• OSU Moritz College of Law: FAQs on 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organizations

Connecticut Debuts Election Day Registration

Image Source

This month's municipal elections in Connecticut marked the first time voters in the state could register on Election Day. In Connecticut, Election Day Registration is not available at polling places. Instead, each town has a designated Election Day Registration location.

Secretary of State Denise Merrill estimates that between 1,500 and 2,000 people took advantage of Election Day Registration and that it was particularly popular in New Haven. She noted, "This is the first election it's in effect and it did very well; we had no problems."

Secretary Merrill tweeted that turnout was 31% statewide--a high of 77% in Bridgewater and a low of 5.21% in Hartford.

Learn more about the states that allow Election or Same-Day Registration. 

CIRCLE Reports on Youth Turnout in NJ and VA

According to CIRCLE's calculations of exit polls, youth turnout was 26% in Virginia and 18% in New Jersey this year.  Using the same methods, CIRCLE concluded that youth turnout in Virginia was 17% in 2009 and 18% in 1997, and in New Jersey 26% in 1997 and 19% in 2009. This suggests a significant increase in Virginia in 2013 compared to the two most recent gubernatorial races.

These turnout estimates mean that roughly 288,000 young voters cast ballots on November 5th in Virginia, out of the estimated 1.1 million 18-29 year-old citizens who live in that state. In New Jersey, roughly 206,000 young voters cast a ballot out of the estimated 1.2 million 18-29 year old citizens.

CIRCLE Director Peter Levine noted that "Although 18% and 26% are far from satisfactory, these statistics should be put in context," and that "Turnout is always much lower in off-year gubernatorial elections than in presidential years"

Read CIRCLE's full analysis.

* The estimated numbers of young people who voted in the 1997 and 2009 governors’ races were calculated using: (1) the number of ballots cast in each race according to the media, (2) the youth share of those who voted, based on the exit polls conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool, and (3) the estimated number of 18-29 year old citizens taken from the Census Current Population Survey, March Demographic File of that year. Edison Research estimates that its exit polls have a margin of error rate of plus or minus three percentage points.

Washington Voters Reject Changes to Initiative Process

This post was written by Aisia Davis, Nonprofit VOTE's Administrative Assistant and a 2L student at New England Law | Boston.

Earlier this month, Washington voters rejected a proposal that would have increased the profitability of the signature gathering business by altering the state's initiative process. Washington is one of 24 states which use an initiative or referendum process that offers citizens the right to make and remake laws, as well as check the decisions of the legislature. If citizens are dissatisfied with a particular law or feel that a new law is needed, they can forward an initiative and place it on the ballot.

Once a path for citizen democracy, ballot measures have increasingly become yet another way for well-funded interests to pursue their agenda. The "money equals 'free' speech" legal theory has prohibited states from limiting the special interest money behind these measures and has created an uneven playing field between issue supporters and opponents. What was once a volunteer driven process that required a high threshold of citizen support has turned into a system where the signatures required to qualify a measure are usually gathered by for-profit companies that contract with ballot measure sponsors.

I-517 proposed significant changes to Washington’s initiative and referendum process, including expanding the rights of paid and volunteer signature gatherers and making it illegal to interfere with an individual gathering signatures. Purporting to protect the First Amendment rights of citizens (or signature gathering firms), the initiative sought to permit signature collection on public sidewalks, store entrances and exits, sport stadiums, convention/exhibition centers, and public fairs. This would have greatly imposed upon the rights of business owners, nonprofits, and government alike to set guidelines about when and where signatures are collected. It would have also proved intrusive to the public as it expanded the types of areas and venues in which signatures could be collected. Lastly, the initiative would have increased the time allotted to collect signatures from 10 to 16 months, an expanded time frame that would also have helped signature-collection companies earn more money.

Voter Engagement Case Studies - Learning From 2012

How do nonprofits carry out voter engagement work? Our report Can Nonprofits Increase Voting Among Their Clients, Constituents, and Staff? Case Studies describes how 16 organizations engaged their communities around the 2012 election.

These organizations were among the 94 nonprofit service providers that tracked their voter contacts with 33,741 individuals last year. They ranged from California to North Carolina and included community health centers, multi-service agencies, and children and family groups, in addition to organizations that serve people with disabilities, ex-offenders, and people currently experiencing homelessness. Through interviews with these organizations, we learned more about the challenges they faced, their successes, and common takeaways.

While Part I of the report showcases the impact of nonprofit voter engagement on turnout, Part II tells the story of the nonprofits doing the work. The case studies describe how organizations approached voter engagement, as well as their specific tactics and strategies. Each one includes an organizational profile, background information, a description of activities, and concludes with lessons learned. We hope that these findings will serve as a guide while incorporating voter engagement into programs and services in 2014 and beyond.

New Reports on Disability and Voter Turnout

The National Council on Disability and the Research Alliance for Accessible Voting have both released new reports on the Experience of Voters with Disabilities in the 2012 Election Cycle and Disability, Voter Turnout, and Voting Difficulties in the 2012 Elections.

They found that 15.6 million people with disabilities reported voting in the November 2012 elections. Their turnout rate was 5.7 percentage points lower than that of people without disabilities, meaning 3 million more voters with disabilities would have participated if they voted at the same rate as people without disabilities. Additionally in 2012,

• 30.1% of voters with disabilities reported difficulty in voting at a polling place, compared to 8.4% of voters without disabilities. 
• Over one-fourth of voters with disabilities voted by mail, compared to one-sixth of people without disabilities. Among people with disabilities who voted by mail, about one-tenth reported difficulties and the need for assistance in filling out or sending the ballot. 
• Almost one-third of voters with disabilities required assistance in voting, most commonly given by election officials or family members. 

The National Council on Disability noted architectural and physical barriers at registration and polling sites, as nearly 40% of respondents encountered physical barriers at their polling places.

The findings from both reports highlight the ongoing challenges voters with disabilities face in casting a ballot. Through advocacy and voter education we can help ensure that all eligible voters--including those with disabilities--can successfully cast a ballot. An easy way to start is by ensuring that our communities are registered: in 2012, the voter registration rate of people with disabilities was 2.3 percentage points lower than that of people without disabilities.

Webinar Materials: Nonprofits Increase Voting

Yesterday's webinar, Nonprofits Increase Voting: Findings from 2012, is now available. Many thanks to Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg of CIRCLE and Isela Gutiérrez-Gunter from Democracy North Carolina for joining us for this discussion.

Watch the presentation on YouTube. 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 our voter turnout and research resources for more information.

Learn more about the findings in the full report Can Nonprofits Increase Voting Among Their Clients, Constituents, and Staff? An Evaluation of the Track the Vote Program.

Thursday: Nonprofits Increase Voting - Findings from 2012

There's still time to register for Thursday's webinar: 

Nonprofits Increase Voting: Findings from 2012
Thursday October 24th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

What happens when nonprofits talk to their constituents about voting? To find out, Nonprofit VOTE and its partners enlisted 94 nonprofit service providers to track their voter contacts with 33,741 individuals in seven states during the 2012 election. Afterward, CIRCLE conducted an independent analysis of voter file data to see how turnout among voters contacted by nonprofits compared to other groups. 

Join us as we discuss the impact nonprofits had on voter turnout and the populations nonprofits reached. In addition to the turnout results, we will cover key takeaways from 27 interviews with participating organizations, including the challenges they faced, their successes, and lessons learned. Don't miss out on this opportunity to find out what happens when nonprofits engage their communities around voting and to learn about strategies that worked to incorporate voter engagement into ongoing programs and services.

Featured Presenters: Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg is the Deputy Director of CIRCLE where she oversees their core research projects and produces resources and reports for various audiences, including peer-reviewed articles, reports, and factsheets. She has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Isela Gutiérrez-Gunter is the Research Associate and Latino Outreach Coordinator at Democracy North Carolina. She has over a decade of experience at advocacy-oriented nonprofits, including work with the ACLU of Washington State and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. She has a BA in History from Scripps College and a MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill. George Pillsbury is the founder and Executive Director of Nonprofit VOTE.  

Get Out the Vote Tools for 2013

Currently, 44 states have voter registration lookup tools and 48 have polling place finders. Wouldn't it be great if this (and other) election information was available in one place? You're in luck, it is! Visit our 50 state map to:

• Find Your Poll
• Check Your Voter Registration
• Learn About Voter ID Requirements

You can also access other state-specific voting resources, including contact information for your local elections office, details for voters with special circumstances, and early voting opportunities.

November 5th is less than a month away. Although they may be registered, voters still need to know where to go and what to take with them. Help your community vote by being prepared to answer these and other questions. You can also help registered voters request an absentee ballot.

In many states it's not too late to register! Although National Voter Registration Month is over, many state registration deadlines have not yet passed. Depending on where you live, you might be able to register online or on Election Day itself. Learn more about voting in your state and ensure your community is prepared for the 2013 election cycle.

"Yes, we vote"

By Michael Weekes, President of the Providers' Council. Reprinted from The Provider, the newspaper of the Providers' Council, Summer 2013 issue.  

Nonprofit VOTE, the nation's leading nonpartisan source focused on engaging nonprofits in registering voters and promoting voting through mission-focused activities, has released a seminal report on voting rates for those connected with nonprofits.

The essential question asked also serves as the title of the report: Can Nonprofits Increase Voting Among Their Clients, Constituents and Staff? Based on empirical analysis of service providers in several states by Tufts University's Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), the report concludes the answer is a resounding "Yes."

For those of us who are connected with CareVote, the Providers' Council's decade-long effort to encourage voting among its human service provider network, it was gratifying news affirming our beliefs and assumptions.

The Council, in full disclosure, is represented on the board of Nonprofit VOTE and shares its belief that nonprofits have earned a well-deserved reputation as trusted resources for many in our nation. As indicated by national data, nonprofits play a role in hundreds of millions of lives – employing more than 13.7 million people, with another 62.7 million serving as volunteers and of course the multi-millions receiving services.

The report's research was conducted in relationship to the 2012 national election when close to 100 nonprofit service providers in seven states, as well as one national partner, agreed to engage with Nonprofit VOTE in its Track the Vote project.

In tracking the voting behavior of 33,741 individuals who registered to vote and/or pledged to vote via outreach from these service providers, this select group from Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio – plus the National Association of Community Health Centers – helped to answer important questions. Overall, the data clearly shows the effect of having contact with a nonprofit about voting on increasing the likelihood that individuals will actually vote.

Equally important in a sector that is stretched for resources, it shows the essential elements that help nonprofit service providers integrate voter participation in their work. The qualitative and quantitative analysis framed response to queries related to the audience reached; capacity of service providers to engage; impact of those contacted by nonprofits to vote; what tactics and strategies have efficacy; and what factors contribute to success for service providers.

Among the significant findings were:

• Clients, constituents and staff were "markedly more diverse, lower income and younger than all registered voters in the seven states, made up of populations with a history of lower voter turnout in past elections";
• Nonprofit-contacted voters were nearly twice as likely to be younger voters (under age 30), more than three times more likely to be Latino or black and four times more likely to have incomes under $25,000;
• The turnout rate among nonprofit-influenced voters was at 74 percent – 6 points higher than the rate for all registered voters, including 18 percent higher from Latino and Asian voters, 8 percent higher among whites and 7 percent higher among blacks;
• Nonprofit intervention had the "…biggest impact among turnout of the least likely voters…"

Still, there remains more work to be done, including drilling down to the specific interventions that appeared to have the greatest impact on increasing voter participation, as well as determining if the changes are sustained during the next election cycle and the level of resources that are needed to be effective.

But the report provides the first answers to the fundamental question of can nonprofits make a difference in voter turnout based on personal contact with millions of Americans.

The report summary notes, "The populations reached by nonprofit providers were disproportionately younger, lower income and diverse by race and ethnicity – with a past history of lower voter participation."

Which means, according to Nonprofit VOTE founder George Pillsbury, "When nonprofits talk to the people we serve about voting, they listen and turn out to vote. It means more election impact and a louder voice for our issues and our communities."

We agree with his assessment and hope this work will help us expand the role of nonprofits in advancing democracy in this nation. At its core, is not that the essence of a nonprofit organization's mission-driven purpose?

October Webinar: Nonprofits Increase Voting - Findings from 2012

Nonprofits Increase Voting: Findings from 2012
Thursday October 24th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

What happens when nonprofits talk to their constituents about voting? To find out, Nonprofit VOTE and its partners enlisted 94 nonprofit service providers to track their voter contacts with 33,741 individuals in seven states during the 2012 election. Afterward, CIRCLE conducted an independent analysis of voter file data to see how turnout among voters contacted by nonprofits compared to other groups. 

Join us as we discuss the impact nonprofits had on voter turnout and the populations nonprofits reached. In addition to the turnout results, we will cover key takeaways from 27 interviews with participating organizations, including the challenges they faced, their successes, and lessons learned. Don't miss out on this opportunity to find out what happens when nonprofits engage their communities around voting and to learn about strategies that worked to incorporate voter engagement into ongoing programs and services.

Featured Presenters: Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg is the Deputy Director of CIRCLE where she oversees their core research projects and produces resources and reports for various audiences, including peer-reviewed articles, reports, and factsheets. She has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Isela Gutiérrez-Gunter is the Research Associate and Latino Outreach Coordinator at Democracy North Carolina. She has over a decade of experience at advocacy-oriented nonprofits, including work with the ACLU of Washington State and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. She has a BA in History from Scripps College and a MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill. George Pillsbury is the founder and Executive Director of Nonprofit VOTE.  

Minnesota Voters Can Now Register Online

Yesterday, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State announced voters can now register to vote (or update their information) online and that military and overseas voters will be able to apply online for an absentee ballot at mnvotes.org.

The Secretary of State's office touted the online registration process as a way to "deliver convenience to voters, reduce errors in voter rosters, and deliver significant cost- and time-savings for local election officials." They estimate the time counties require to process an online application will be one-third to one-half of that needed to process a paper application. This will also minimize inaccurate records that stem from processing handwritten paper forms--like illegible handwriting, incomplete applications, and data entry errors.

For military and overseas voters, the online absentee ballot application will not replace paper applications, but will allow these voters the opportunity to forgo printing, scanning forms, and returning forms by mail, fax or email. In the 2012 general election, there were 10,506 absentee ballots successfully cast by military and overseas Minnesota voters.

Minnesota joins 18 other states that have either passed or implemented online registration. According to projections by the Pew Charitable Trusts at least half of the states will employ online registration by 2016.

In Minnesota, more than 35 municipalities will hold elections on November 5 for various city officers, and 113 school districts will hold elections for school board members and/or have ballot questions. Voters can register online until 5 p.m. on October 15, but it is not required, as voters may still register at their polling place on Election Day.

Secretaries of State Embrace National Voter Registration Day

Not only did the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) declare September National Voter Registration Month, but they once again endorsed National Voter Registration Day (NVRD).

On Tuesday September 24th, more than a dozen secretaries of state participated in the second annual National Voter Registration Day by promoting voter registration, hosting special events, or joining the online conversation.

The 2013-14 NASS president, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, was particularly engaged in National Voter Registration Month and NVRD. He encouraged Tennessee voters to snap photos holding an "I'm registered to vote. Are you?" sign and share them online. Secretary Hargett led by example, posting his picture on Twitter and the GoVoteTN website. 

On National Voter Registration Day, Hargett's Twitter feed was full of these photo retweets (including state election commissioners), facts about voting (like "Voting keeps your status active, but if your address has changed you need to change your address with the election commission."), and links to voting information.

Secretaries of State from Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana. Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Texas also tweeted about #CelebrateNVRD. They encouraged voters to register, check their registration status, and make updates as necessary. States that allow online registration, like California and Washington, made it easy to "check 'registering to vote' off your to-do list" by directing voters to online registration portals.

In Georgia, the Secretary of State shared information on current voter registration numbers and demographics. Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill launched a high school voter registration contest. In his NVRD press release, the Kansas Secretary of State sought to promote awareness for voter registration requirements, including resources that cover ID and proof of citizenship requirements.

On September 24th, secretaries of state across the country not only affirmed the importance of voting, but also demonstrated their commitment to engaging voters and promoting voter registration. Now, as they say in Louisiana, Let's Geaux Vote!

It's National Voter Registration Day!

Today is National Voter Registration Day! This second annual holiday for democracy will bring together hundreds of organizations across the country as we register our communities to vote. Participate in the celebration by:

• Joining the conversation. Celebrate NVRD by promoting voter registration--send emails to colleagues, tweet with #CelebrateNVRD, and encourage others to spread the word and register. 
• Canvassing your office. Help ensure eligible coworkers are registered and that their information is current. 
• Registering to vote or updating your registration. Have you moved recently? Update your information. 

Whatever you do, use September 24th to help all eligible citizens register and prepare to vote!

Integrating Voter Registration into the Enrollment Process

By Dana Lawrence, Director of Communications and Grassroots Advocacy at the Michigan Primary Care Association. A version of this post appeared on their website.

Last week a group of folks from Michigan Health Centers and other nonprofit organizations came together for a training presented by Michigan Primary Care Association in collaboration with Nonprofit VOTE, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Michigan Voice, and the National Association of Community Health Centers on how to integrate voter registration assistance into the health insurance enrollment process. With just two weeks until open enrollment begins for plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace, enrollment staff are gearing up to provide quality assistance to Health Center patients and other community members.

Asking someone if they would like to register to vote while they are enrolling for health insurance is actually a natural fit. The question of whether an individual would like to register to vote is on the Marketplace application, as well as in Michigan's online application for public assistance programs offered through the Department of Human Services.

"In addition to helping patients apply for health insurance, another service we think is important for Health Centers to provide is helping individuals register to vote or update their voter registration," said Natasha Robinson, Program Specialist, Outreach, Enrollment & Education, Michigan Primary Care Association. "An individual's vote matters to their health care and their Health Center, and assisting them through the voter registration application takes just a few minutes but offers tremendous, lifelong benefits."

By integrating voter registration assistance into the enrollment process, Health Centers will reach individuals who might otherwise not register to vote. When registered to vote, individuals are empowered to make their voices heard, and they realize that their vote can make a difference. Plus, studies show registered voters are more likely to be civically engaged. People who vote have a powerful impact on public policy and government, and influence laws and budgeting.

The nonprofit sector, which includes Health Centers, serves underrepresented and underserved populations with a history of lower voter participation, and wide gaps in who votes undermines democracy and nonprofit missions and goals. A new report recently released by Nonprofit VOTE, Can Nonprofits Increase Voting, demonstrates that nonprofits have the ability to close voter turnout gaps. For example, constituents engaged by nonprofits to register to vote in the 2012 election were markedly more diverse and lower income, yet the voter turnout among those contacted by nonprofits was 74%, six points above the 68% turnout rate for all registered voters.

Long story short, the upcoming implementation of the Affordable Care Act – beginning with the launch of open enrollment on October 1, 2013 – will bring millions of Americans into Health Centers and other social service agencies across the country. This offers Health Centers a unique opportunity to give their clients the option of registering to vote or updating their voter registration if they've moved or had a name change. Many Health Centers and other agencies already offer ongoing nonpartisan voter registration assistance as part of their Medicaid and WIC application and renewal processes to comply with the National Voter Registration Act. Health Centers now have a chance to offer the same voter registration assistance to significantly more people.

Webinar Materials: Voter Registration for Nonprofits

Yesterday's webinar, Ready, Set, Register: Voter Registration for Nonprofits, is now available. Many thanks to Rebecca Gorrell from the Colorado Participation Project for joining us for this discussion.

Watch the presentation on YouTube. 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 nonpartisan resources on voter registration to learn more.

Don't forget that it's National Voter Registration Month and that Tuesday September 24th is National Voter Registration Day. Visit the NVRD website to find events, view communications samples, and more.

New Report on Turnout Gaps in 2012 Election

We're pleased to announce that our new voter turnout report, Voter Participation Gaps in the 2012 Presidential Election, is now available. It is the latest in our America Goes to the Polls series and is based on the recently released biennial Census survey on voting and registration. The report tracks, analyzes, and explains prominent turnout gaps like:

• Age - 45% of youth (ages 18-29) turned out in 2012, down from 51% in 2008. 
• Household Income - There was a 15 point turnout gap between members of lower income and higher income households in 2012—the smallest it has been in the last four presidential elections. 
• Mobility - There was a 15 point turnout gap between individuals who had resided at their current address for less than a year (61%) and those who had resided at their current address for at least 5 years (76%). This disparity has decreased in recent presidential elections, though it remains around 33% in midterms. 
• Ethnicity - Black turnout (66%) exceeded non-Hispanic white turnout (64%) for the first time. Turnout among Latino and Asian-American voters (48% and 47%, respectively) continues to trail white and black turnout by 16 to 19 points. 

Our report, Can Nonprofits Increase Voting, demonstrates that nonprofits have the ability to close these and other voter turnout gaps. Learn more about voting gaps and then visit the resources section of our website to see how your nonprofit can help close them.

Tomorrow: Voter Registration for Nonprofits

To help your community vote, you must first ensure that they are registered. There's still time to register for tomorrow's webinar:
 
Ready, Set, Register: Voter Registration for Nonprofits
Thursday September 12th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Voter registration is a foundational voter engagement activity. Join us to learn how your nonprofit can integrate voter registration into the work you already do. We'll discuss nonpartisan dos and don'ts, different state requirements, registration tactics, and more. We'll also cover National Voter Registration Day, coming up on September 24th.

Featured Presenter: Rebecca Gorrell is the Deputy Director of the Colorado Participation Project. She has 12 years of nonprofit management, development, and volunteer experience at organizations throughout Colorado. She has also been involved in diverse campaign and electoral efforts in Denver as a poll worker, poll watcher, and canvasser.

Pull Out Those Calendars: Preparing for the 2014 Midterm

Is it too soon to think about next year's national midterm and the election of Congress, one-third of the Senate, two-thirds of state governors, and almost all state legislatures? No, definitely not. Unfortunately, most nonprofits won't even begin considering their November 2014 plans until the end of next summer. In such a small window, there is little time to plan, much less implement effective registration, education, and get-out-the-vote activities.

Why nonprofits should get involved in nonpartisan election activity 
Voting is associated with a host of positive attributes:

• People who register and vote are more likely to talk to their neighbors, meet with local officials, and engage in other civic actions. 
• Studies show that states with higher voting levels have higher levels of self-reported health, lower ex-offender recidivism rates, and even lower unemployment. 

Besides empowering their constituents, higher participation rates help nonprofits further their missions and complement advocacy and public policy work. Because of the populations nonprofits reach, their voter engagement efforts have the potential to significantly contribute to the diversity of the electorate.

Our new report illustrates the impact of personal voter outreach by nonprofit service providers in raising turnout out rates among those least expected to vote and in closing gaps in voter participation across all demographics. By tracking the voters contacted by 94 nonprofits during the 2012 election cycle, we found:

• The clients and constituents engaged by nonprofits were markedly more diverse, lower income, and younger than the general population of registered voters in their states. 
• Voter turnout among those contacted by nonprofits was 74%, six points above the 68% turnout rate for all registered voters–with the largest turnout differences seen among young, Latino, and "low propensity voters" who political campaigns typically miss. 

Voter engagement should be a year-round activity
As our report shows, nonprofits have an important role to play in getting their communities involved in the fundamental democratic act of voting. There are many ways organizations can make voter engagement a year-round activity and then jumpstart or increase activity during a national or local election.

Ensure that ways to get involved in voting are visible year-round at your organization. Talk about voting on your website and in your communications. Place a voter registration link or tool on your website, along with relevant election information and resources from Nonprofit VOTE and Bolder Advocacy.

Make voter engagement part of your organizational mission and culture. Have a conversation with your leadership about voter engagement, why it makes sense for your nonprofit, ideas for implementation, and your plans for 2014. Leadership support can facilitate staff buy-in and help make voter outreach an ongoing priority. It also creates a foundation for including civic engagement in your organization's mission statement.

Celebrate National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday September 24, 2013 to demonstrate your organization's support for voter participation. It could even be the perfect time to test out methods and strategies for registering voters at your organization.

Knowing that nonprofits can have an incredible impact on turnout when they talk to their clients and communities about voting, now is the time to start thinking about how you can help yours successfully register and participate in 2014 and the years to come. Visit Bolder Advocacy's Election page and Nonprofit VOTE's site for resources and materials to get started.

A version of this post appeared on the Bolder Advocacy blog.

Next Week: Voter Registration for Nonprofits

To help your community vote, you must first ensure that they are registered. Learn more about during our next webinar:
 
Ready, Set, Register: Voter Registration for Nonprofits
Thursday September 12th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Voter registration is a foundational voter engagement activity. Join us to learn how your nonprofit can integrate voter registration into the work you already do. We'll discuss nonpartisan dos and don'ts, different state requirements, registration tactics, and more. We'll also cover National Voter Registration Day, coming up on September 24th.

Featured Presenter: Rebecca Gorrell is the Deputy Director of the Colorado Participation Project. She has 12 years of nonprofit management, development, and volunteer experience at organizations throughout Colorado. She has also been involved in diverse campaign and electoral efforts in Denver as a poll worker, poll watcher, and canvasser.

Webinar Recap: Health Insurance Enrollment and Voter Registration

Yesterday's webinar, Health Insurance Enrollment and Voter Registration for Health Centers and Other Nonprofits, is now available. Many thanks to Robert Brandon of the Fair Elections Legal Network and Marc Wetherhorn of the National Association of Community Health Centers for joining us for this discussion.

Watch the presentation on YouTube. 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 nonpartisan resources on voter registration to learn more.

Health Insurance Enrollment and Voter Registration

What does voter registration have to do with ACA enrollment? Find out during our next webinar:
 
Health Insurance Enrollment and Voter Registration for Health Centers and Other Nonprofits
Wednesday August 21st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Starting October 1st millions of Americans will become eligible to enroll in Medicaid or a health exchange health insurance plan under the new Affordable Care Act. Join us to learn how requirements under the National Voter Registration Act will effect health centers and other nonprofit agencies involved in ACA enrollment. We'll cover how-tos and tips for conducting voter registration during enrollment and describe the support, materials, and other resources available to organizations like yours.

Featured Presenters: Robert M. Brandon, President and Co-Founder of the Fair Elections Legal Network, is a public interest attorney with more than 30 years of public policy, legal, legislative, media, and campaign experience at the federal, state, and local levels. He is also President of Robert M. Brandon and Associates, a public affairs firm that works to advance public interest and grassroots goals. Marc Wetherhorn is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement at the National Association of Community Health Centers where he directs their national grassroots campaign efforts. He provides training and technical assistance to primary care associations and health centers on grassroots strategy and state-based policy issues.

Can Nonprofits Increase Voter Turnout? Yes.

A new study by Nonprofit VOTE found that turnout among voters contacted by nonprofits during the 2012 election was 74%, six points above the 68% turnout rate for all registered voters.

The clients engaged by nonprofits were markedly more diverse, lower income, and younger than the general population of registered voters. Though these demographic groups are known to turn out at lower rates than their peers, nonprofits were successfully able to narrow traditional voting gaps based on age, race, ethnicity, and household income.

To assess the impact nonprofits have on turnout, Nonprofit VOTE enlisted 94 nonprofit service providers in seven states to track their voter contacts for evaluation purposes. These organizations reached 33,741 clients who registered or signed a pledge to vote. The results are available in a new report, Can Nonprofits Increase Voting Among Their Clients, Constituents, and Staff? An Evaluation of the Track the Vote Program.

"The findings and demographic information from this study underscore the potential of local nonprofits to reach people missed by campaigns and who are not expected to vote," said Michael Weekes, President of the Providers' Council and Nonprofit VOTE Chair.

In the study, the nonprofits had their biggest participation impact among groups underrepresented in the electoral process. The turnout rate of voters contacted by nonprofits compared to all registered voters was:

• 18 points higher for Latino voters (72% vs. 54%), 
• 15 points higher for voters under the age of 30 (68% vs. 53%), and 
• 15 points higher for voters with household incomes under $25,000 (68% vs. 53%). 

"Political participation is highly unequal in the United States, and efforts to engage the lowest-income Americans are scattered," says Peter Levine, Executive Director of CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. "One highly promising strategy is to integrate nonpartisan voter registration and outreach into the activities of nonprofits that serve the poorest Americans. The new report from Nonprofit VOTE shows that this approach worked in 2012 and should be strengthened for 2014 and beyond."

Download the Executive Summary and the full report to review the findings. 

National Voter Registration Day Webinar Materials

Yesterday's webinar, National Voter Registration Day is September 24th, is now available. Many thanks to Emily Alsleben of the Bus Federation and Maggie Duncan from the League of Women Voters for joining us to discuss this exciting event.

Watch the presentation on YouTube. 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 visit www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org to learn more.

Ballot Measure Advocacy Webinar Materials

Yesterday's webinar, Laws on the Ballot: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits, is now available. Many thanks to Nayantara Mehta of the Alliance for Justice for joining us to share her expertise.

Watch the presentation on YouTube. 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 nonpartisan resources on ballot measure education and advocacy.

Register now for next Thursday's webinar to learn how your nonprofit can participate in National Voter Registration Day on September 24th!

National Voter Registration Day Webinar

Are you ready for National Voter Registration Day? Learn more during our next webinar:
 
National Voter Registration Day is September 24th
Thursday August 1st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

On September 24, 2013, volunteers, celebrities, and organizations from all over the country will "hit the streets" for the second annual National Voter Registration Day. This single day of coordinated volunteer, technology, and media efforts will create widespread awareness of voter registration opportunities--allowing us to reach tens of thousands of voters who would not be otherwise contacted. Join us to learn how your nonprofit can get involved, host your own voter registration event, and more.

Featured Presenters: Emily Alsleben is the National Programs Manager at the Bus Federation, where she manages the field operations of National Voter Registration Day. She also leads their national Trick or Vote efforts. Maggie Duncan serves as Elections Program Manager for the League of Women Voters of the United States and has more than a decade of political advocacy and strategic communications experience. She currently manages the League’s nationwide voter registration programs and leads their national campaign to promote a transparent and fair redistricting process.

Thursday's Webinar: Ballot Measure Advocacy

There's still time to register for Thursday's webinar. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how your nonprofit can work for or against a ballot measure:
 
Laws on the Ballot: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits
Thursday July 25th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Although nonprofits cannot support or oppose candidates, they can take a stand on ballot measures. Ballot measure advocacy is an effective way to engage and advocate for your community and its interests. Join us for details on how ballot measures--as well as amendments and referendums--provide yet another nonpartisan opportunity to connect with your audience, collaborate with partners, and build relationships--all while advancing your mission and goals.

Featured Presenter: Nayantara Mehta is Senior Counsel with Alliance for Justice in Oakland, CA. She works through the Bolder Advocacy Initiative to support nonprofit advocacy and voter engagement, to help strengthen the capacity of the public interest community to influence public policy. She provides training and technical assistance to nonprofit and foundation staff and board members around the country on the rules governing advocacy, lobbying and election activities.

National Voter Registration Day 2013

Last year's inaugural National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) was an overwhelming success. 1,100 organizations and 9,000 volunteers helped register over 300,000 voters nationwide.

Join this annual event and show your support for voter participation by helping your clients and constituents register to vote. Learn more about how your nonprofit can get involved or host an event by registering for our August 1st webinar.

National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday September 24th. Millions of people will vote this year. Will you help your community participate? Sign your organization up today!

Evaluating the Impact of Nonprofit Voter Engagement

What kind of impact do nonprofits have on voter turnout when they talk to their clients and constituents about voting? Who do they reach?

In 2012 we sought to answer these and other questions about the effectiveness and impact of nonprofits conducting voter engagement by having 94 nonprofits track their voter contacts. They engaged 33,741 clients and constituents across seven states, who were successfully matched to the state voter file.

Now, we're pleased to announce our findings from this first of its kind evaluation in a forthcoming report--Can Nonprofits Increase Voting Among Their Clients, Constituents, and Staff? An Evaluation of the Track the Vote Program. The results showed the impact of personal voter outreach by nonprofit service providers in raising turnout out rates among those least expected to vote and closing gaps in voter participation across all demographics.

• The clients and constituents engaged by nonprofits were markedly more diverse, lower income, and younger than all registered voters in the seven states, made up of populations with a history of lower voter turnout in past elections. 
• Voter turnout among those contacted by nonprofits was 74%, six points above the 68% turnout rate for all registered voters--with the largest turnout differences seen among young. Latino, and "low propensity voters" who campaigns typically miss. 

Learn more by signing up to receive a digital copy of the full report and detailed findings as soon as it is available.

Rhode Island Joins National Popular Vote Compact

Rhode Island state lawmakers endorsed the National Popular Vote Compact back in 2008 but former Governor Carcieri vetoed the legislation. However, current Governor Lincoln Chafee has signed the latest bill, and Rhode Island is the ninth state to enact the law, along with Washington D.C.

Before Rhode Island joined, the combined states had only 132 electoral votes, about 49% of the 270 needed to guarantee the presidency to the winner of the popular vote. Now, with the addition of Rhode Island's four votes, the compact has officially crossed the halfway mark at 136 votes!

But for the time being, nothing changes. Remember, the Agreement Among the States to elect the President by National Popular Vote only takes effect when it has been approved by enough states to guarantee that the majority of Electoral College votes would go the winner of the national popular vote.

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