The Benefits of Election Day Registration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Don't Be Shy, Engage the Candidates!

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

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

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

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

Access Yesterday's Ballot Measure Webinar Materials

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

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

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

LA County Takes Strategic Look at Elections

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

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

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

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

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

Election Day Registration Coming to Connecticut

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

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

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

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

Thursday: Ballot Measure Webinar

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

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

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

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

California Nonprofits to "Vote with Your Mission"

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

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

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

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

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

Tied Down by Tuesday?

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

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

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

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

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

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Georgia to Comply with the NVRA

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

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

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

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

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Don't Be Shy, Engage the Candidates!

This month we're hosting two webinars! The first is the perfect opportunity to brainstorm ways to use ballot measures to educate your clients and further your public policy goals.

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

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

Featured Presenter: Nayantara Mehta is Senior Counsel with the Alliance for Justice in Oakland, California, and works to help strengthen the capacity of the public interest community to influence public policy and engage around elections. She conducts trainings throughout the country on the rules governing advocacy and lobbying by public charities and private foundations. She holds a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. 

Webinar Materials on 501(c)(3) Guidelines Now Available

Yesterday's webinar, Being Nonpartisan: 501(c)(3) Guidelines for Voter Engagement Work, is now available!

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

Now that you have a handle on the nonpartisan basics, consider taking the next step by registering for our upcoming webinar on May 10th, Taking a Stand: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the do's and don't for engaging the public around referendums, initiatives, and ballot questions. RSVP today!

Reminder: Nonpartisan Guidelines Webinar

There's still time to register for this week's webinar on guidelines for staying nonpartisan while doing voter engagement work! Register now!

Being Nonpartisan: 501(c)(3) Guidelines for Voter Engagement Work
Thursday April 26th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Learn what it means to be nonpartisan and how it impacts the voter engagement efforts of nonprofits. We'll describe what your organization can do within nonpartisan limits to help your clients and community members register to vote and access information about the voting process, candidates, and issues. We'll even describe how to engage candidates on a nonpartisan basis! Register now and help raise participation rates in your community this year!

Featured Presenter: George Pillsbury is the founder and Executive Director of Nonprofit VOTE, as well as the author of "Nonprofits, Voting, and Elections: A Guide to Nonpartisan Voter Engagement for 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations". He also founded and directed MassVOTE and started several foundations dedicated to community uplift. His work in the fields of philanthropy, social investing, and voter and civic participation spans three decades.

Voter Registration Upgrades Needed

The Pew Center on the States recently released an issue brief on "Evidence That America's Voter Registration System Needs an Upgrade".

The report underscores the need for registration systems that better maintain voter records, save money, and streamline processes. The report notes that nationwide:

• At least 51 million eligible citizens remain unregistered--more than 24% of the eligible population.
• More than 1.8 million deceased individuals are listed as voters.
• Approximately 2.75 million people have registrations in more than one state.
• About 12 million records have incorrect addresses, meaning either the voters moved, or errors in the information make it unlikely any mailings can reach them.

However, since 2010, elections officials from several states have been working with Pew on plans to upgrade their voter registration systems. This includes comparing registration lists with other data sources--like motor vehicle and National Change of Address records--minimizing data entry by finding ways for voters to submit information online, and using protocols to better track and identify inaccurate records. 

Although nonprofits might not be able to fix all these registration issues, there's plenty we can do to ensure all eligible citizens are registered. Learn more about voter registration and how you can participate in National Voter Registration Day on September 25!

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Candidates Talk Back with Candidate Questionnaires!

While nonprofits cannot support or oppose a candidate for office, there are a number of ways to engage candidates on a nonpartisan basis.

Consider creating a candidate questionnaire: not only will it allow you to communicate with candidates, but it will also let your clients (and the public) know what the candidates think about a variety of issues impacting your community.

Draft the questions carefully.

• Pose questions in a neutral manor so that they do not favor (or seem to favor) a particular candidate.
• Don't use the questionnaire to demonstrate whether a candidate agrees or disagrees with your organization's views.
• Keep it fairly short--you want candidates to respond and you want people to read their responses.
• Use open-ended questions and avoid yes/no or support/oppose formats.
• Do not include pledges (e.g. "If elected I agree to support all _____ issues.").

Distribute the questionnaire to all candidates.

• Be sure to send the questions to EVERY candidate in the race.
• Provide a word limit for responses--this helps avoid the impression of favoring one candidate over another.
• Set a deadline for replies, but leave a reasonable amount of time.
• Don't be afraid to follow up if you don't hear back.

Share their responses!

• Publish all responses in full (another reason for imposing a word limit). Do not paraphrase, summarize, or edit responses.
• All responses should be displayed in the same font, the same print size, and in an impartial way.
• Remember, do not compare the candidates' responses to your organization's views.
• Let the public know this information is available! Post it on your website, broadcast it in your communications, and make hard copies available at your nonprofit.

For further guidelines (like what to do if some candidates don't respond) review the Alliance for Justice's Candidate Questionnaire factsheet.

Ahead of their May 8th state primary, the N.C. Center for Nonprofits sent a list of 10 questions about key policy issues for the nonprofit sector to each gubernatorial candidate. They ranged from inquiries about personal experience with the nonprofit sector to questions about incentives for charitable giving, and plans to collaborate with and support nonprofits in North Carolina. A number of candidates participated, so check out their responses!

Consider writing your own questionnaire, and learn more about candidate engagement! Have you created a candidate questionnaire? Tell us about it!

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New Partner Spotlight: Kids Voting USA

Please join us in welcoming Kids Voting USA (KVUSA) to the Nonprofit VOTE network! Kids Voting USA is working to secure the future of our democracy by preparing young people to be educated, engaged citizens. They operate through a national network of community-based affiliates that partner with schools and elections officials to offer students in Kindergarten through high school a range of opportunities for civic learning and engagement.

By combining classroom instruction, family dialogue, and an authentic voting experience, KVUSA is working to create long-term changes in voting behavior. Students take part in a voting experience using a ballot that mirrors that of adults with the same candidates and issues, reinforcing civic knowledge and skills.

Learn more about all of our state and national partners. 

Partner Spotlight: CWLA

Nonprofit VOTE is pleased to introduce one of our newest national partners, the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)! CWLA is a powerful coalition of hundreds of private and public agencies serving vulnerable children and families since 1920.

CWLA leads and engages its network to advance policies, best practices, and collaborative strategies that result in better outcomes for vulnerable children, youth, and families. Encouraging civic and voter engagement is one of the ways CWLA helps advocate for children and youth, as well as the communities that care for and support them. Their expertise, leadership, and innovation helps improve the lives of millions of children in all 50 states.

Find out how voter engagement can help your organization better meet the needs of your clients and constituents!

April Webinar: Stay Nonpartisan

Want to give voter engagement a try, but aren't completely sure what it means to be nonpartisan? Register for our April webinar and find out!

Being Nonpartisan: 501(c)(3) Guidelines for Voter Engagement Work
Thursday April 26th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Learn what it means to be nonpartisan and how it impacts the voter engagement efforts of nonprofits. We'll describe what your organization can do within nonpartisan limits to help your clients and community members register to vote and access information about the voting process, candidates, and issues. We'll even tell you how to engage candidates on a nonpartisan basis! Register now and help raise participation rates in your community this year!

Featured Presenter: George Pillsbury is the founder and Executive Director of Nonprofit VOTE, as well as the author of "Nonprofits, Voting, and Elections: A Guide to Nonpartisan Voter Engagement for 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations". He also founded and directed MassVOTE and started several foundations dedicated to community uplift. His work in the fields of philanthropy, social investing, and voter and civic participation spans three decades.

County Elections Websites Need Improvement

In an average year, there are over 5,000 local ballot measures on ballots across the country

However, Ballotpedia recently reviewed 738 county election websites and found that as many as 32% don't display information on local ballot measures. The study reviewed 738 county election websites in 11 states--about 24% of the nation's 3,143 counties.

Accessible and informative elections websites are vital to educating voters and maintaining an accountable electoral system. This is particularly true at the county level, because counties typically administer elections for a variety of jurisdictions—including school districts, cities, towns, villages, park and recreation districts, and other special districts, as well as the county itself. The study found:

• The State of Washington consistently had the best information, while Missouri consistently had the worst.
• The county with the longest archival history was Benton County in Oregon, with election information dating back to 1852.
• Of the 738 counties checked, only 505 (68%) had election information available on their local websites.

See a detailed breakdown of how each state and each county was evaluated. Does your county have an elections website and, if so, how does it perform?

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National Voter Registration Day: Sept. 25

Nonprofit VOTE is part of National Voter Registration Day, a nationwide initiative to register all eligible voters on September 25, 2012!

In 2008, 6 million people failed to cast a ballot either because they didn't know how to register to vote or they missed the deadline. But in 2012, we want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to vote.

On September 25th, our coalition will lead a nationwide field effort to register voters at nonprofits, on campus, at work, in the community, and online. Together, we can ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to register and participate in this year's election!

Learn more about National Voter Registration Day, sign up for updates, and learn how you can get involved!

Find Voter Engagement Resources Now!

Nonprofit VOTE has redesigned our Find Resources section to make it easier than ever to locate resources on the topics that interest you!

With this system, you can quickly browse all of our guides, factsheets, posters, external links, webinars, and other materials on a particular subject to find what you need. Our materials are divided into nine topic areas:

• Voter Engagement 101
• Staying Nonpartisan: 501(c)(3) Guidelines
• Voting in Your State
• Nonprofits and Ballot Measures
• Candidate Engagement
• Voter Registration
• Get-Out-the-Vote
• Research
• Voter Turnout

In addition to our new approach to resources, we've added an Action Center to help you better connect with Nonprofit VOTE. Last month, we mentioned the redesigned Get Started page, but there's even more, so take another look! Visit our website today and see all the changes for yourself!