New Year, New Website

Nonprofit VOTE is kicking off 2014 with a new look! Today we're debuting our redesigned website. The site is simple, clean, easy to navigate, and of course nonpartisan and nonprofit friendly! Although the design may be different, the quality content and helpful resources haven't changed.

Featured on the site is our new online voter engagement resource library. It's the web's most comprehensive collection of voter engagement resources and our filter makes it easier than ever to find what you're looking for. Use it to sort by topic, type, media, or language or browse the entire library.

Take a look! You can still find us at www.nonprofitvote.org.

January 23rd: Making a Voter Engagement Plan

It's January, which means it's time to start making a voter engagement plan! The midterm elections are November 4th, and 35 Senate seats and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election. At least 21 states will have state-wide ballot measures. Make sure your nonprofit is prepared by joining our January webinar:

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

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

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

Webinar Materials: Nonprofits Increase Voting

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

Watch the presentation on YouTube. If you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse our voter turnout and research resources for more information.

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

New Report on Turnout Gaps in 2012 Election

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

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

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

Tomorrow: Voter Registration for Nonprofits

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

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

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

Pull Out Those Calendars: Preparing for the 2014 Midterm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Webinar Recap: Health Insurance Enrollment and Voter Registration

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

Watch the presentation on YouTube. If you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse all of our nonpartisan resources on voter registration to learn more.

Ballot Measure Advocacy Webinar Materials

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

Watch the presentation on YouTube. If you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse all of our nonpartisan resources on ballot measure education and advocacy.

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

National Voter Registration Day Webinar

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

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

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

Thursday's Webinar: Ballot Measure Advocacy

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

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

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

July 25th: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits

Did you know that working for or against a ballot measure is considered lobbying (not electioneering) and is therefore a permissible activity for 501(c)(3) organizations? Learn more during our next webinar:
 
Laws on the Ballot: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits
Thursday July 25th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

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

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

Candidate Engagement Webinar Materials

Yesterday's webinar, Candidate Engagement: Candidate Forums, Appearances and More, is now available. Many thanks to MassVOTE's Cheryl Crawford for joining us to share her expertise. 

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

In addition to candidate engagement, ballot measure advocacy and education can help your nonprofit engage your community around voting and elections. Register now for our July 25th webinar, Laws on the Ballot: Ballot Measure Advocacy for Nonprofits, featuring Nayantara Mehta from the Alliance for Justice.

Thursday: Candidate Engagement for Nonprofits

There's still time to register for Thursday's webinar:
 
Candidate Engagement: Forums, Appearances and More
Thursday June 27th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Candidate engagement is one of the most effective ways your nonprofit can advocate for your community. It draws community members into the political process and also encourages voting and other civic engagement. Join us for details on hosting candidate forums, coordinating candidate appearances, sharing research with candidates, and more.

Featured Presenter: Cheryl Crawford is the Executive Director of MassVOTE and has worked for many years in communities of color advocating for voting and civil rights. At MassVOTE she directs the Democracy for Nonprofits program and the Civic Engagement Fund, which distributes seed money and provides technical support to community nonprofit organizations so that they can to make a significant commitment to voter empowerment. From 2010 to 2012, she also directed MassVOTE's Census and Redistricting Project.

June 27th Webinar: Candidate Engagement

Although nonprofits cannot support or oppose candidates for political office, there are still a number of ways to engage them on a nonpartisan basis. Learn more during our next webinar:
 
Candidate Engagement: Forums, Appearances and More
Thursday June 27th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Candidate engagement is one of the most effective ways your nonprofit can advocate for your community. It draws community members into the political process and also encourages voting and other civic engagement. Join us for details on hosting candidate forums, coordinating candidate appearances, sharing research with candidates, and more.

Featured Presenter: Cheryl Crawford is the Executive Director of MassVOTE and has worked for many years in communities of color advocating for voting and civil rights. At MassVOTE she directs the Democracy for Nonprofits program and the Civic Engagement Fund, which distributes seed money and provides technical support to community nonprofit organizations so that they can to make a significant commitment to voter empowerment. From 2010 to 2012, she also directed MassVOTE's Census and Redistricting Project.

Webinar Recap: Voter Registration Modernization

Yesterday's webinar, Voter Registration Modernization, is now available. Many thanks to Myrna Pérez from the Brennan Center for Justice for joining us to share her expertise.

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

In addition to voter registration, candidate engagement is an effective way nonprofits can advocate for and engage their communities. Register now for our June 27th webinar, Candidate Engagement; Forums, Appearances and More, featuring MassVOTE's Cheryl Crawford.

Order a Free "Register to Vote" Poster

Nonprofit VOTE's popular "Register to Vote" poster is back, and available in both Spanish and English. Whether you're gearing up for a state election or just want to make voting more visible at your organization, this poster is the perfect tool. 

Voter registration is one way that your organization can encourage year round voter participation. The poster has space to add customized information like a registration deadline or instructions on how to register at your organization or another site. Display it prominently as a visible reminder for your clients, staff, and volunteers to get registered! 

Learn about simple and effective ways to conduct voter registration by browsing all of our nonpartisan voter registration resources. Order a poster today and engage voters at your nonprofit!:

May 16th Webinar: Voter Registration Modernization

In every state except North Dakota, voters must be registered before they can cast a ballot. Join us for a discussion about ways to update voter registration systems that make it easier for election offices to maintain lists and for voters to keep their information up to date:

Voter Registration Modernization
Thursday May 16th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Over the last few years, a number of states have enacted laws and policies to update their voter registration systems--including innovations like online registration, Election Day Registration, and portable registration. This move toward voter registration modernization, supported by both voters and elections officials, has gained momentum and a number of states have already proposed new legislation in 2013. Join us for a review of voter registration updates and other important voter registration reforms. 

Featured Presenter: Myrna Pérez, Senior Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice. Ms. Pérez works on a variety of voting rights related issues, including redistricting, voter registration list maintenance, and access to the ballot box. Prior to joining the Brennan Center, Ms. Pérez was the Civil Rights Fellow at Relman & Dane, a civil rights law firm in Washington, D.C. Ms. Pérez graduated from Columbia Law School in 2003, where she was a Lowenstein Public Interest Fellow. Following law school, Ms. Pérez clerked for the Honorable Anita B. Brody of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and for the Honorable Julio M. Fuentes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

April 18 Webinar: Voter Turnout in the 2012 Election

Looking for interesting facts about the 2012 election and turnout? Join our next webinar:

Voter Turnout in the 2012 Election
Thursday April 18th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

With elections now certified in all 50 states, Nonprofit VOTE has released America Goes to the Polls 2012, the latest in a series of reports on national turnout and voting trends. In this webinar we will share some of the report's most interesting findings, including state-by-state voter turnout rankings and factors affecting turnout, such as Election Day Registration and swing state status. We will also examine key voting trends among populations served by nonprofits, as well as proposals to expand voter registration and the opportunity to vote.

Webinar Materials: Nonpartisan Guidelines for Voter Engagement

Yesterday's webinar, Being Nonpartisan: 501(c)(3) Guidelines for Nonprofits Doing Voter Engagement, is now available. It describes how nonprofits can engage their communities through nonpartisan voter registration, voter education, and get-out-the-vote efforts. 

Watch the presentation on YouTube. If you subscribe to our channel, you'll be notified whenever new content is posted. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion of the presentation, or browse all of our resources on how to stay nonpartisan while conducting voter engagement.

Be sure to check our 2013 webinar schedule for upcoming trainings.

Thursday: 501(c)(3) Guidelines for Voter Engagement

There's still time to register for this week's webinar on how nonprofits can conduct nonpartisan voter engagement work!

Being Nonpartisan: 501(c)(3) Guidelines for Nonprofits Doing Voter Engagement
Thursday March 21st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Unsure what it means to be nonpartisan when engaging voters and connecting to candidates around elections? Join our next training when we'll review what your organization can do on a nonpartisan basis to help your constituents and community vote through voter registration, voter education, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Topics include candidate forums, ballot measures, nonpartisan use of social media, and what nonprofit staff and volunteers can do in personal time. Register now and help raise participation rates in your community!

Featured Presenter: George Pillsbury is the founder and Executive Director of Nonprofit VOTE. In 2005, he joined with state and national nonprofit partners to launch Nonprofit VOTE as a resource for 501(c)(3) nonprofits wishing to conduct nonpartisan election activities. As its director, he has authored numerous nonpartisan voter engagement toolkits and guides, including Nonprofits, Voting and Elections: A Guide for 501(c)(3)s, A Nonprofit's Guide to Hosting a Candidate Forum, and a series of factsheets on nonprofits and election activity. His work spans four decades in the nonprofit sector working in the fields of philanthropy, social investing, and voter and civic participation.