tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37571943688562835152012-02-01T13:12:31.551-05:00News and updates from NonprofitVOTE.orgR.Adamsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5461100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-5722077922748402132012-01-30T09:10:00.000-05:002012-01-30T11:11:01.077-05:00

To help you prepare for this year's election, we've updated and expanded our factsheet series! In addition to information on 501(c)(3) permissible activities and working with candidates, we have new factsheets on: Election Day Registration, explaining what it is, which states have it, and how it helps voters keep their registration current. Expanding Voter Registration Opportunities,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-83679668734178434372012-01-27T11:19:00.003-05:002012-01-27T11:21:54.116-05:00

Thank you to everyone who joined yesterday's webinar, Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012! If you have additional questions for our featured presenter, Jeff Narabrook of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, you can contact him directly at jnarabrook@minnesotanonprofits.org.The webinar is now available on YouTube along with our other past webinars. Subscribe to the channel

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-29179415931762024732012-01-24T10:48:00.000-05:002012-01-24T10:48:00.243-05:00

There's still time to register for Thursday's webinar! With 2012 underway, it's important for your nonprofit to think about how you plan to register, educate, and engage voters. Join us for: Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012 Thursday January 26th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern In this webinar we'll discuss when, where and how to incorporate voter engagement activities into your

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-30829386744954058112012-01-18T10:20:00.000-05:002012-01-18T10:20:00.953-05:00

On Monday, Connecticut Governor Malloy and Secretary of State Merrill held a press conference where they called for preserving and expanding access to voter registration. The governor is proposing legislation that would allow for online registration (with a valid and current driver's license), Election Day Registration, and for absentee ballots to be governed by statute—giving legislators the

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-13427383143291468822012-01-17T10:33:00.000-05:002012-01-17T10:33:00.243-05:00

With 2012 underway, it's important for your nonprofit to think about how you plan to register, educate, and engage voters. Join us for: Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012 Thursday January 26th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern 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 2012

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-48284431140129345112012-01-13T13:46:00.000-05:002012-01-13T14:03:19.426-05:00

The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) supports nonprofit voter engagement efforts and believes that all nonprofits "have a right and a duty to be part of the electoral process"--particularly this year. NCN seeks to advance the role, capacity, and voice of nonprofit organizations through state and national networks, which is one of the reasons NCN partners with Nonprofit VOTE. Together, we

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-76618571659096191542012-01-11T10:27:00.000-05:002012-01-11T16:36:45.544-05:00

Most of your New Year's Resolutions are already set (and maybe even broken), but we have one more that can't wait until next year. In 2012 we'll elect the president, 33 U.S. senators, every member of the House of Representatives, and countless others in state and local races. 220 million Americans will be eligible to vote--including over 25 million young people and new citizens eligible for the

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-35565877368122737522012-01-04T09:34:00.000-05:002012-01-04T09:43:48.291-05:00

In 2011 we hosted an array of expert presenters on a variety of voter engagement and participation topics. Before we announce our 2012 webinar series schedule, we wanted to review some of last year's top webinars: We shared groundbreaking new research from the 2010 election that documented the impact nonprofits have when they talk to their clients and constituents about voting. MassVOTE's

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-8469304662421493362012-01-03T13:19:00.001-05:002012-01-04T12:10:45.072-05:00

Today is only the third day of the new year, but it officially marks the beginning of the 2012 presidential election. Iowa Republicans are kicking off the selection process for their party's nominee, and results are expected to begin coming in around 8:30pm Eastern. Although 2012 is underway, it's not too early (or late) to map out your organization's voter engagement plan for this year. Join

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-63931997855463815292011-12-19T09:34:00.000-05:002011-12-19T09:34:00.282-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-12295178065897474292011-12-16T10:38:00.000-05:002011-12-16T10:38:00.273-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-9401056121626834622011-12-14T08:30:00.000-05:002011-12-14T08:30:04.320-05:00

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,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-40185388588041034722011-12-12T09:51:00.000-05:002011-12-12T09:51:00.724-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-61085049537209062402011-12-09T10:40:00.000-05:002011-12-09T12:27:06.753-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-71291123503062870632011-12-08T13:30:00.000-05:002011-12-08T14:02:11.464-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-48592734807743979902011-12-06T13:38:00.000-05:002011-12-06T16:25:27.884-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-39147708711661913842011-12-02T10:09:00.000-05:002011-12-02T15:15:34.961-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-26720665378426893582011-12-01T09:33:00.000-05:002011-12-01T12:52:28.930-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-28447480634038785822011-11-29T10:49:00.000-05:002011-11-29T10:49:00.121-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-8918563247679513142011-11-28T10:44:00.000-05:002011-11-28T10:44:00.948-05:00

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,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-35788533954420793742011-11-23T09:05:00.000-05:002011-11-23T11:53:11.434-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-49161817691370391102011-11-18T12:25:00.000-05:002011-11-18T14:45:01.089-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-70055871875939521712011-11-16T10:06:00.000-05:002011-11-18T15:23:50.034-05:00

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,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-26687608780696359192011-11-15T10:25:00.000-05:002011-11-15T10:25:00.520-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-2754009212437518052011-11-14T09:22:00.000-05:002011-11-14T09:22:00.424-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-54591307816240841012011-11-10T09:46:00.000-05:002011-11-10T13:19:17.628-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-7508418336417270672011-11-09T11:19:00.000-05:002011-11-09T11:19:09.844-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-30722418262964711132011-11-07T10:36:00.000-05:002011-11-07T10:36:00.387-05:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-44186224012843593752011-11-04T09:00:00.000-04:002011-11-04T09:00:16.904-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-46020113736845649532011-11-02T09:56:00.000-04:002011-11-02T16:32:13.475-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-411838695770873012011-11-01T10:45:00.000-04:002011-11-01T15:32:39.710-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-61806502055643702102011-10-27T10:21:00.000-04:002011-10-27T15:18:54.906-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-24311625009682697892011-10-25T09:34:00.000-04:002011-10-25T09:34:00.308-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-15787858119942372452011-10-21T11:10:00.000-04:002011-10-21T12:18:03.685-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-80600969188766211812011-10-19T10:54:00.000-04:002011-10-19T15:04:41.327-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-13762726856730569152011-10-12T10:49:00.000-04:002011-10-12T10:59:59.817-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-33658161210764774412011-10-11T10:30:00.000-04:002011-10-11T12:06:07.759-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-17956367814822102332011-10-07T10:33:00.000-04:002011-10-11T12:06:54.937-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-36209128914976185372011-10-04T09:10:00.000-04:002011-10-04T15:30:35.040-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-67874760464170030702011-10-03T09:36:00.000-04:002011-10-03T09:36:00.172-04:00

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,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-53900183294357854882011-09-30T15:58:00.002-04:002011-09-30T15:58:38.950-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-6167997533116727602011-09-27T09:08:00.000-04:002011-09-27T09:08:00.232-04:00

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.

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-61425866973955170602011-09-26T10:30:00.000-04:002011-10-04T15:30:56.299-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-37022889453073299512011-09-23T10:05:00.000-04:002011-09-27T11:18:48.862-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-32528415186119989892011-09-19T09:45:00.001-04:002011-09-19T09:45:01.215-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-57175603700072561762011-09-17T13:04:00.003-04:002011-10-04T15:31:58.844-04:00

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

George Pillsburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02651570843196278158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-44142479064991663852011-09-14T09:37:00.014-04:002011-09-14T09:37:00.601-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-21871364588073429842011-09-12T09:54:00.028-04:002011-09-12T09:54:00.305-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-43156598444737683572011-09-09T09:33:00.005-04:002011-09-09T09:33:00.348-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-40155416176274242722011-09-08T16:59:00.000-04:002011-09-08T16:59:38.060-04:00

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

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-43526079981549881442011-09-06T09:26:00.054-04:002011-09-06T11:15:48.273-04:00

A recent study, "Getting Registered and Getting to the Polls" examines the impact of on-campus voter registration efforts on college student turnout. Although many schools frequently host on-campus registration drives, their success is generally evaluated solely on the number of forms collected. However, this study focuses on what happens after students register. The authors explore whether or

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-56719648803297581892011-09-01T09:19:00.047-04:002011-09-02T16:07:26.606-04:00

Yesterday Nonprofit VOTE joined MIRA and MassVOTE in registering over 1,000 new American citizens to vote following a naturalization ceremony in Boston. This effort kicked off our annual celebration of voter registration, which we traditionally highlight in September. We choose to focus on voter registration in September because many states have voter registration deadlines in early October, up

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-45184921153453489812011-08-29T10:12:00.028-04:002011-08-29T13:18:57.904-04:00

A recent electionline article "Stuck on you" sought to explain the appeal of "I Voted" stickers. Apparently the history of the "I Voted" sticker is unclear, although some historians argue that they were introduced in the 1980s and ElectionStickers.com claims to be the purveyor of the original "I Voted" sticker. Nevertheless, the sticker has become a cultural icon, and is a badge worn proudly.

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-4191590634138861772011-08-25T09:27:00.009-04:002011-08-25T12:26:57.598-04:00

The Federal Election Commission's approval of the Colbert Super PAC has turned some heads, and it also has plenty of people wondering just what a PAC is and does. With names that all seem to include "America" and references to apple pie, it's no wonder people are confused. (If you want to get in on the naming action, try the Sunlight Foundation's PAC name generator.) A recent ProPublica article

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-68689662743436617452011-08-22T09:09:00.000-04:002011-10-04T15:32:16.413-04:00

After our webinar last week on municipal and local elections, we wanted to follow up and make sure your nonprofit was excited and prepared for this fall. If your community is having a municipal election this year there are plenty of ways to get involved and get out the vote. Want to host a candidate forum? We have a guide for that. Candidate forums are a great way for your community to

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-61145854694844849882011-08-19T10:04:00.028-04:002011-08-20T22:16:37.903-04:00

Thanks for joining yesterday's webinar, Think Locally: The Value of Municipal and Regional Elections. The PowerPoint presentation is now available, along with the audio portion of the presentation in MP3 format. You can also watch the full presentation, including audio, online. If you have additional questions about municipal and local elections, please feel free to contact our presenters.

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-67953070466171214962011-08-16T09:54:00.001-04:002011-08-16T09:54:00.307-04:00

You can still sign up for Thursday's webinar: Think Locally: The Value of Municipal and Regional Elections Thursday August 18th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Typically, voter turnout is significantly lower in local elections than in national or statewide races. The upside is that municipal, city, and other regional elections give your nonprofit an unparalleled opportunity to boost turnout, simply by

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-29029302139474497182011-08-12T14:37:00.000-04:002011-08-12T14:37:57.904-04:00

The Florida Parole Commission released a new study showing that an ex-offender whose civil rights have been restored is much less likely to return to prison than others in the released prisoner population. Of the 30,672 former Florida felons that had their voting rights restored in 2009 and 2010, about 11% ended up back in custody. The recidivism rate for the overall released prisoner

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-43105989790154251932011-08-11T09:57:00.000-04:002011-08-11T09:57:00.839-04:00

Over the last few months members of Nonprofit VOTE's staff have been at conferences, trainings, and events across the country to spread the word about nonprofit voter engagement. In July, Lindsey Hodel was at the Kansas Conference on Poverty where she gave a keynote speech and led a workshop. She also presented at the National Community Tax Coalition's annual conference. Suggestions for voter

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-64341150762969771612011-08-10T09:02:00.018-04:002011-08-10T09:02:01.289-04:00

On Monday California Governor Jerry Brown signed the National Popular Vote bill, making California the 8th state to enact the law, along with Washington D.C. With California on board, the National Popular Vote plan now has 49% of the electoral votes needed (132 of 270) to guarantee the presidency to the winner of the popular vote. With 55 electoral votes, California is not only the largest

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-858044893643336022011-08-09T10:09:00.038-04:002011-08-09T13:53:55.935-04:00

Although a number of states have enacted photo ID laws since January--Alabama, Kansas, Rhode Island (after days of confusion), South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Wisconsin--not everyone has jumped on the bandwagon. Governors have vetoed voter ID laws in Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Minnesota. Ohio is the latest of Nonprofit VOTE's partner states to reject voter ID

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-33827418099801425542011-08-08T13:39:00.050-04:002011-08-08T14:27:41.453-04:00

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission recently approved the final drafts of the state's new district maps, setting the stage for its next challenge--potential lawsuits. The commission must formally certify the maps by August 15 and present them to the secretary of state, although Californians can challenge the districts in court or at the polls. Redistricting is always a heated

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-82752539631560121022011-08-04T15:56:00.000-04:002011-08-04T15:56:07.722-04:00

Although there are no presidential candidates on the ballot this year, your nonprofit and community still have plenty to gain from participating in local elections. Think Locally: The Value of Municipal and Regional Elections Thursday August 18th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Typically, voter turnout is significantly lower in local elections than in national or statewide races. The upside is that

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-71257767367673117052011-08-01T09:07:00.069-04:002011-08-01T13:57:53.649-04:00

Thanks to everyone who joined us for last week's webinar Laws on the Ballot: How Nonprofits Can Take a Stand on Ballot Questions. The presentation is now available as a PDF along with the audio portion. You can also watch the presentation with audio online. If you have questions about how your nonprofit can take a stand on ballot questions, the Alliance for Justice has a toll free number you can

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-74697989754001608602011-07-27T12:02:00.008-04:002011-07-27T13:59:34.321-04:00

Yesterday was the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, guaranteeing equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications. According to the Census Bureau, 36 million Americans have a disability, 12% of the civilian

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-73451762948040541602011-07-26T09:20:00.001-04:002011-07-26T09:20:00.564-04:00

Laws on the Ballot: How Nonprofits Can Take a Stand on Ballot Questions  Thursday, July 28th at 2:00pm Eastern Many states put laws and constitutional amendments on the ballot, asking voters to make critical public policy decisions at the polls. Often, nonprofits have a vested interest in the outcome of these questions because they directly affect our organizations and communities. Learn how

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-66093772021920308662011-07-22T12:17:00.001-04:002011-07-22T12:23:43.710-04:00

Great news: Connecticut is looking for ways to improve and update their election systems! Earlier this week, Secretary of State Denise Merrill convened an Election Performance Task Force to review Connecticut's election system and recommend improvements. Members of the task force include Secretary Merrill and her deputy, town clerks, representatives from Common Cause, Demos and the Connecticut

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-6222339251382165322011-07-20T12:48:00.000-04:002011-07-20T12:48:02.063-04:00

Recently, Kentucky has seen a rise in the number of voter registration forms submitted by homeless individuals. As a result, State Board of Elections Executive Director Sarah Ball Johnson wrote a memo to the state's county clerks, instructing them to approve all voter registration applications from people who are homeless--even if clerks can't verify the address on the form. Although the policy

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-78493194934254716722011-07-19T14:56:00.001-04:002011-07-19T14:57:30.325-04:00

Question: What's the difference between the importance of voting and the importance of being a voter? Answer: A 14% difference in turnout. A new study by Stanford social psychologist Christopher Bryan suggests that voter turnout can be improved simply by calling someone a voter, rather than asking them to vote. The study shows that subtle linguistic cues can increase voting behavior. As part

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-88931241455806196522011-07-15T10:15:00.005-04:002011-07-15T10:58:22.198-04:00

As state and federal budgets are tightened, nonprofits are being asked to shoulder a disproportionate share of cuts, while still being expected to maintain quality services. In response, many have stepped forward to advocate and lobby for their clients, their causes, and their funding. In addition to working with legislators, many nonprofits are recognizing the importance of mobilizing voters,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-37198429828103802432011-07-13T09:05:00.005-04:002011-07-13T09:05:00.371-04:00

In June, we reported that Maine repealed its long tradition of allowing voters to register and cast their ballot on Election Day. Luckily, the story doesn't end there: a people's veto campaign is underway to restore Election Day Registration (EDR) to Maine. The movement is spearheaded by a collation of nonprofits, including the Maine Women's Lobby, Engage Maine, the Disability Rights Center,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-90335321192012625962011-07-11T09:10:00.004-04:002011-07-12T16:58:40.251-04:00

In the spirit of American independence, join us for our July webinar on direct democracy. Laws on the Ballot: How Nonprofits Can Take a Stand on Ballot Questions Thursday July 28th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Many states put laws and constitutional amendments on the ballot, asking voters to make critical public policy decisions at the polls. Often, nonprofits have a vested interest in the outcome

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-69334191436341655872011-07-08T09:17:00.007-04:002011-07-08T09:17:00.395-04:00

Tomorrow, South Sudan will officially become an independent nation, a day that also marks the expiration of the 2005 north-south peace deal.The UN is expected to convene next week to vote on (and most likely approve) South Sudan's membership in the UN, making it the 193rd member country.Back in January, almost 99% of Sudanese voters cast their ballots for independence. Almost 4 million people

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-45991250854583535612011-07-06T13:27:00.001-04:002011-07-06T13:39:07.001-04:00

One of the reasons we encourage nonprofits to register their clients and constituents to vote is because many states are not fully compliant with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which requires public agencies to register voters.Recently, successful lawsuits in both Ohio and Missouri forced compliance and caused the number of voters registering at public agencies to balloon. In Ohio

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-88518471067808967932011-06-29T10:26:00.004-04:002011-06-29T11:46:59.072-04:00

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last Thursday's webinar, Nonpartisan Candidate Forums: Building Clout for your Nonprofit. A special thanks to Cheryl Crawford and George Pillsbury for sharing their expertise.Due to technical difficulties during the webinar, the recording was clipped. We apologize for the inconvenience. Nevertheless, you can download the PowerPoint and audio portion of the

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-3504512762196057332011-06-28T10:17:00.004-04:002011-06-28T12:10:11.881-04:00

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) recently made news when it came up on the House budget chopping block. (It survived.) In the meantime, the EAC has released a new report on voter registration statistics from after the 2008 general election through the 2010 midterm election. The report covers the number of registered voters, the registration process, and voter registration list

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-74079761249674591532011-06-22T12:31:00.003-04:002011-06-22T15:31:26.169-04:00

The state that pioneered Election Day Registration (EDR) has now passed legislation ending the practice. Yesterday Maine Governor Paul LePage signed a bill that ended the state's long tradition of EDR.Supporters of the bill claim it will reduce fraud, however opponents point out that there has only been one case of fraud linked to the law in the almost four decades it was in place. Supporters of

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-40084675802013927932011-06-21T13:14:00.004-04:002011-06-21T13:29:34.233-04:00

Join Nonprofit VOTE on Thursday as we discuss 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.The webinar, Nonpartisan Candidate Forums: Building Political Clout for Your Nonprofit is Thursday, June 23rd at 2:00pm Eastern. Cheryl Crawford, Director of Programs at MassVOTE, will present along

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-52905077859081892112011-06-16T15:43:00.002-04:002011-06-16T16:06:12.062-04:00

Did you attend a local redistricting hearing to offer testimony about your community? If so, rest assured that it paid off. Last week California's Citizens Redistricting Commission released the first set of draft redistricting maps. Upon their release, Greenlining Institute Redistricting Fellow Michelle Romero noted "One thing that's clear is that when communities turned out to make their

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-90308400389940535022011-06-14T09:31:00.001-04:002011-06-14T11:58:40.017-04:00

Last week Rock the Vote released a new state Voting System Scorecard which found that most states are failing to both prepare and engage young people in the democratic process.Using a 21-point scale, the scorecard measures state laws and policies on voter registration, casting a ballot, and young voter preparation. According to the scorecard, the states with the best policies supporting youth

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-65374876001682423052011-06-10T10:03:00.002-04:002011-06-10T10:03:01.150-04:00

Earlier this month Nonprofit VOTE's partner, Rx Democracy! warned of the negative impact of Florida's proposed election legislation. Despite opposition from numerous groups, Governor Rick Scott signed HB 1355/S 2086 into law.Florida in recent years had made great improvements to its election law that bolstered voter participation and turnout by making it easier for voters to cast their ballot.

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-10738398546262087382011-06-06T13:35:00.000-04:002011-06-06T14:52:59.835-04:00

Although some states have already finished the redistricting process, many are still hard at work.Earlier this year, the Prison Policy Initiative released a new set of factsheets on prison-based gerrymandering. The factsheets highlight how the practice is disenfranchising minority voters nationwide, particularly African-Americans, Latinos, and American Indians.Prison-based gerrymandering starts

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-40236404902321315862011-06-03T10:39:00.004-04:002011-06-03T10:46:36.535-04:00

We hope you can join us for this month's webinar:Nonpartisan Candidate Forums: Building Political Clout for Your NonprofitThursday, June 23rd at 2:00pm EasternHosting a nonpartisan candidate forum gives your nonprofit the opportunity to educate candidates and the public about the issues that matter to your organization and the communities you support. Organizing or co-sponsoring a candidate forum

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-48357311628808406042011-05-31T09:05:00.002-04:002011-05-31T10:56:48.645-04:00

Takoma Park, Maryland is considering allowing voters to cast their ballots online this November.But before anything is decided, a system test will be conducted on June 9 where voters will be asked to pick their favorite Beatle and their favorite poet. For voters who are stressed about this difficult decision, rest assured that refreshments will be served. Here's how the system would work:Voters

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-39144308896104919412011-05-26T09:38:00.003-04:002011-05-26T09:38:00.621-04:00

Earlier this week we talked about what states are (or aren't) doing to make voting information more accessible online. To that end, we have reviewed each state's voter information site and picked our favorites based on clarity, accessibility, and comprehensiveness.The best sites let users register online, check their registration status, look up their polling place, see a sample ballot, and track

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-20278507370779193972011-05-25T12:51:00.003-04:002011-05-25T13:01:59.114-04:00

During the 2010 midterm election, a first of its kind study assessed--and ultimately affirmed--the agency-based approach to increasing voter participation. Conducted with the support of Nonprofit VOTE and the Michigan Nonprofit Association, this new research demonstrates the effectiveness of nonprofit voter engagement efforts.The study found that:When a nonprofit talked to clients about voting,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-70379526946637447982011-05-24T12:40:00.007-04:002011-05-24T14:32:01.769-04:00

We recently took stock of each state's official voter information page in an effort to find out what states are doing to increase voter participation. While every state site offers some information to voters, there are huge disparities in the content and quality of that information. Some sites offer conveniences like online voter registration and the ability to track your absentee ballot, while

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-5463905720289896922011-05-20T09:20:00.003-04:002011-05-20T09:20:00.340-04:00

Earlier this week we congratulated Michigan for taking advantage of naturalization ceremonies to register new citizens. It's the perfect example of how to effectively integrate voter registration into ongoing activities. By reaching out to clients while providing services (or during classes or events) nonprofits can register voters with equal success.Nonprofit VOTE has numerous resources to help

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-76416840082631256652011-05-19T15:11:00.004-04:002011-05-19T15:31:33.265-04:00

A new report from The Hispanic Institute found that Hispanics are the leading users of mobile phones and social media in the U.S.The study, "Connected Hispanics and Civic Engagement," highlights the three areas Hispanics have used technology to affect change--immigration, education, and voter registration.Gus West of The Hispanic Institute said, "Latinos depend on mobile technology to engage with

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-32666563298730075882011-05-18T09:37:00.003-04:002011-05-18T09:37:00.270-04:00

On May 11 in Dearborn, Michigan, the U.S. welcomed a new cohort of citizens into the American family. Representatives from the Secretary of State's office staffed an on-site voter registration table, allowing newly naturalized citizens to register following the ceremony.Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said "I encourage [Michigan's newest citizens] to take a few moments to register to

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-78070215542418182592011-05-17T13:21:00.010-04:002011-05-18T10:36:36.959-04:00

A new study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy found that advocacy by nonprofit organizations in four Southern states brought more than $4.7 billion in benefits to low-wage workers, families, and other underserved populations. The study analyzed the impact of 20 advocacy and community organizing groups in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi between 2005 and 2009.The

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-71366871308363698692011-05-16T08:56:00.004-04:002011-05-16T09:12:43.329-04:00

Many thanks to last week's webinar attendees! We are pleased that so many joined us for Nonprofits Increase Voter Participation: New Research from the Field to hear about the importance of nonprofit voter engagement.Whether or not you were able to tune in, you can still access the materials online: download the PowerPoint and the audio portion of the presentation in MP3 format. You can also

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-48778037422506482102011-05-11T09:15:00.002-04:002011-05-13T13:12:00.181-04:00

Is your nonprofit registering new voters? Gearing up for a municipal election? Designing a candidate questionnaire? Well then let us know! At Nonprofit VOTE we love to hear from nonprofit organizations about the voter participation activities, projects, and events you're working on, as well as why does your nonprofit participates in this work. So no matter how your nonprofit is approaching and

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-70450972699433297512011-05-10T10:07:00.004-04:002011-05-10T10:07:00.527-04:00

Dr. Rishi Manchanda, founder of our partner Rx Democracy! recently responded to proposed legislation in Florida (House Bill 1355--which has been passed--and Senate Bill 2086) and explained why all medical professionals should take note.In addition to making it more difficult for "college students, military personnel, low-income and minority voters and anyone who might change addresses" to vote,

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-39663023185523036032011-05-09T10:01:00.001-04:002011-05-09T10:01:00.153-04:00

Please join us on Thursday for a webinar that will show just how effective nonprofit voter engagement is and why your nonprofit should be doing it.Nonprofits Increase Voter Participation: New Research from the FieldThursday, May 12th at 2:00pm EasternLearn about exciting new evidence documenting the impact nonprofits have when they talk to their clients and constituents about voting. Professor

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-54479845921401188122011-05-06T14:29:00.007-04:002011-05-06T14:44:55.968-04:00

Yesterday voters in the United Kingdom went to the polls to decide whether or not to change the voting system used to elect members of the House of Commons, the lower house of parliament. It was only the second time a national referendum has been held throughout the United Kingdom, and the first since the national referendum in 1975.Voters were asked, "At present, the UK uses the 'first past the

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-45049178785990309942011-05-05T12:56:00.007-04:002011-05-05T13:17:22.116-04:00

Last month, Project Vote and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a complaint to force Louisiana into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), and ensure that low-income residents have the opportunity to register to vote. The suit follows in the wake of other successful complaints in both Ohio and Missouri where the number of voters registering at public agencies has ballooned.

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-69639844298707476642011-04-29T11:49:00.007-04:002011-04-29T12:04:19.553-04:00

In California, redistricting has become a public affair with the creation of the new Citizens Redistricting Commission. But Sacramento is making the local redistricting process more public and transparent. They've developed a free online tool that lets anyone participate by drawing their own district boundaries for consideration by the city's committee, and eventually city council.Sacramento has

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-24335988412076527272011-04-25T13:08:00.008-04:002011-04-27T15:17:11.771-04:00

Last week the Rutgers Law School-Newark Constitutional Litigation Clinic filed a suit challenging New Jersey's 21-day advance voter registration requirement. The suit claims that advanced registration is an obsolete and undue burden on the constitutional right to vote, particularly with the rise of modern technology and New Jersey's Statewide Voter Registration System.Plaintiffs include the

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3757194368856283515.post-63046009221726205882011-04-22T10:26:00.005-04:002011-04-22T10:41:28.079-04:00

Please join us for our upcoming webinar:Nonprofits Increase Voter Participation: New Research from the FieldThursday, May 12th at 2:00pm EasternLearn about exciting new evidence documenting the impact nonprofits have when they talk to their clients and constituents about voting. Professor Kelly LeRoux will discuss a new study that tracked the outcomes of nonprofit service providers that contacted

Sophie Lehmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384735764789381984noreply@blogger.com0