New and Updated Factsheets

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, discussing advances in online voter registration and pre-registration that streamline the registration process and make it more accessible.
• The National Voter Registration Act, describing the role of public assistance agencies that are required to offer voter registration to clients.

Visit our full factsheet library to learn more about these and other topics, including state voting laws for ex-offenders, ballot measure advocacy, and what nonprofit staff can do on and off the clock.

Yesterday's Webinar Materials

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 and you'll be informed whenever new content is available! You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation.

Below are some of the materials and resources mentioned during the webinar:

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

You can also visit our website to find other voter engagement resources and materials. Good luck with making your 2012 plan!

RSVP Now for Thursday's Webinar!

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 work. We'll also help you develop and tailor a 2012 voter engagement timeline for your organization. Don't miss this opportunity to start building your 2012 voter engagement plan!

Featured Presenter: Jeff Narabrook is the Public Policy Associate at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Jeff leads their voter participation efforts as director the Minnesota Participation Project.

Connecticut Looks to Expand Registration Opportunities

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 power to adopt laws that address voters who cannot get to the polls on Election Day. The proposed legislation would also increase penalties on any effort to block or impede voter access.

In addition to helping voters register more easily, these reforms can help the state make registration more efficient and keep a more accurate voter file. Secretary Merrill noted that "Many states have already made these reforms and by taking these important steps forward we can include a younger generation of voters and expand participation in our democracy."

The proposals will be introduced for the legislative session beginning in February. Hopefully they can be passed and adopted quickly. Whatever the result, cheers to Connecticut for looking to expand voter registration opportunities!

January Webinar: Making a 2012 Plan

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 voter engagement timeline for your organization. Don't miss this opportunity to start building your 2012 voter engagement plan!

Featured Presenter: Jeff Narabrook is the Public Policy Associate at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Jeff leads their voter participation efforts as director the Minnesota Participation Project.

Partner Spotlight: National Council of Nonprofits

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 and our partners can utilize our networks to effectively coordinate efforts and disseminate information about best practices.

NCN--the largest network of nonprofits in the United States--encourages its partners and affiliates to learn about 501(c)(3) nonpartisan requirements and to engage their communities. This can be done by educating candidates or helping the people you serve register and vote. After all, the people we elect will decide significant policies that can either help or harm the communities our nonprofits serve. Follow NCN's lead and voterize your nonprofit!

Increasing Voter Participation One Nonprofit at a Time

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 first time. But who will turnout?

Voter turnout will be the key, not just to who wins, but to what voters and which communities are heard after Election Day. In 2010, six of ten eligible voters stayed home, and a disproportionate number were younger and lower income individuals.

Nonprofits can change that. Our sector is a powerful civic force whose status as trusted messengers and daily contact with millions of Americans has the potential to reach and engage large underrepresented populations. We are more than one million nonprofits strong and with your help the sector can close participation gaps and encourage everyone to become a voter in 2012.

So when your organization sets its 2012 priorities, make sure that voter engagement is one of them. Although your nonprofit might struggle with shrinking budgets and increased demand for services, you must still resolve to voterize your organization. Whatever challenges your nonprofit faces, voting is part of the solution. Start planning today.

Voter engagement can take a variety of forms: you can register voters, educate your clients and constituents about the voting process, or take a stand on a ballot measure. Voter engagement doesn't have to be complicated. But you have to do something.

In 2012, we will leave no nonprofit and no voter behind. Let's give nonprofits and our communities a seat at the table of democracy this November and beyond.

(Image Source)

2011 Webinar Rewind

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 Co-Director, Cheryl Crawford, joined us to discuss techniques for organizing an effective candidate forum, how to stay nonpartisan throughout the process, and tools to help every step of the way. 
• Abby Levine from the Alliance for Justice and Ben Dudley from Engage Maine talked about how nonprofits can take a stand on ballot measures. 
• We reviewed the unprecedented nationwide effort to pass legislation that creates voter registration barriers and limits access to the polls. Megan Donovan from the Fair Elections Legal Network talked about how nonprofits can help defend their clients' right to vote. 
• We asked nonprofits to start thinking about their 2012 voter engagement plan, including when, where, and how to incorporate activities into their ongoing work. Don't worry if you missed it, we're doing an encore this month!

Our full webinar library is available on our YouTube channel. Subscribe today and you'll be notified whenever we post new content. We'll be announcing our full 2012 webinar lineup soon, so stay tuned!

(Image Source)

The 2012 Election Begins Today!

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 our webinar this month for guidance and support on building a 2012 voter engagement timeline!

(Image Source)