Tomorrow: Getting Started with Voter Engagement

There's still time to register for tomorrow's webinar!

Get Started with Nonprofit Voter Engagement
Thursday February 21st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Looking for an introduction to nonpartisan voter engagement for nonprofits? Join us for an overview of nonpartisan dos and don'ts, as well as effective tactics for voter registration, voter education, ballot measure advocacy, candidate engagement, and get-out-the-vote efforts. We'll focus on ways to help you integrate outreach into services you already provide. Register today!

Featured Presenter: Isela Gutiérrez-Gunter is currently a consultant with Nonprofit VOTE and previously led the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Project at Democracy North Carolina. Her prior work experience includes advocacy around statewide juvenile justice reform in Texas and local drug policy reform in Seattle, WA. She has a BA in History from Scripps College and a MSW with an emphasis on Community, Management, and Policy Practice from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Four Reasons to Get Involved in Local Elections

Although local elections lack the prominence of presidential races, they are a great platform for nonprofits to begin or to expand their voter engagement efforts. Participation tends to be lower in local races because many voters don't understand the offices, know who the candidates are, or because there is less campaigning. Your nonprofit can fill this void and raise participation rates by focusing on voter education. Here are four reasons to get involved with a local election this year:

1. Knowledge and Power for Your Community. Comprehensive voter education can build both knowledge among and power for your constituents. Empowering your community in local elections can encourage other civic habits in addition to benefiting your organization. 
2. Fewer Voters and Greater Impact. Because fewer voters cast ballots in local elections, your potential to impact the election is enormous. Registering and turning out even a small number of voters can dramatically change the landscape of an election. 
3. Greater Access to Candidates. It's easier in local elections to connect with candidates. It's also a great way to raise the profile of your organization. You can forge relationships that benefit your community now, and that also have the potential to pay off as local candidates are elected to higher office. 
4. The Results Matter. Local races may not be as popular as presidential races, but they nevertheless impact policy, zoning, spending decisions, school organization, and much more. 

The U.S. Conference of Mayors has released its list of 2013 mayoral races. If there is an election in your community this year, don't sit it out. There is an enormous need to increase voter participation in local elections and no matter what your organization does, you can positively impact your community.

2012 Spotlight: Boys & Girls Clubs of America

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 2012 "Our Voice, Our Choice" campaign effectively combined many elements of the Nonprofit VOTE voter engagement model.

1. Commitment from the top. "Character and Citizenship" is one of BGCA's six program foci, and the vice president responsible for this area was able to get institutional buy-in for voter engagement as a natural extension of this core commitment. This helped ensure the various campaign elements were seen as sanctioned and pre-approved.

2. Planning. High level buy-in was secured in part because the Director and Assistant Director for Character and Citizenship developed a thoughtful and organized multi-stage plan months in advance. They organized voter engagement activities into five "pushes," indicating different activities for staff and program participants, at the national office, and among affiliates. Unlike a spontaneous activity proposed last minute during the height of an intense election season, this prepared approach allowed for internal review, approval, and support.

3. Branding. BGCA developed an attractive "Our Voice, Our Choice" logo that became ubiquitous within and among BGCA affiliates (though it was not part of BGCA's external communications). The campaign tagline, "Great citizens start here," played off a familiar BGCA motto, "Great futures start here."

4. Built in, not tacked on. The BGCA campaign generally didn't require extra resources because most activities were incorporated into existing youth programs and leveraged existing policies:

• National staff: BGCA's campaign plan included a range of activities throughout the various stages, including: Pre- and post-campaign "We the People" quizzes with prizes; iCivics online games; "Lunch & Learn" with county board of elections officials; fun videos made in-house; red, white, and blue "jeans day"; cupcakes and sodas on Election Day; an online guide to activities, and; a special HR memo explaining their paid leave policy for voting.
• Local clubs: BGCA utilized existing communications channels--primarily their internal intranet "online communities"--to provide their 4,000 affiliates and 45,000 staff members with regular messages and reminders as well as well as links to Nonprofit VOTE resources and election information. Local clubs incorporated mock elections, iCivics quizzes and games, and voting activities into ongoing youth programs.

5. Having fun! From the start, the campaign was designed to be fun and festive. BGCA produced a man-in-the-street style video to find out what people know about voting, the national office hosted "Lunch & Learn" sessions, youth played iCivics games online, and Election Day itself was a celebration of democracy featuring balloons and festive attire.

Webinar: Getting Started with Voter Engagement

Voters won't be selecting the next president this year, but they will be electing state and local government leaders. Don't sit out during these important elections!

Get Started with Nonprofit Voter Engagement
Thursday February 21st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern

Looking for an introduction to nonpartisan voter engagement for nonprofits? Join us for an overview of nonpartisan dos and don'ts, as well as effective tactics for voter registration, voter education, ballot measure advocacy, candidate engagement, and get-out-the-vote efforts. We'll focus on ways to help you integrate outreach into services you already provide. Register today!

Featured Presenter: Isela Gutiérrez-Gunter is currently a consultant with Nonprofit VOTE and previously led the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Project at Democracy North Carolina. Her prior work experience includes advocacy around statewide juvenile justice reform in Texas and local drug policy reform in Seattle, WA. She has a BA in History from Scripps College and a MSW with an emphasis on Community, Management, and Policy Practice from UNC-Chapel Hill.

2012 Ballot Measures: Elections

November 6, 2012 was the first presidential election since the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010. Consequentially, the 2012 election was more expensive than any other election in our history by more than $700 million.

In an apparent reaction to the ruling, some states voted on limiting or eliminating corporate contributions to elections. Voters in Montana and Colorado approved laws that would prohibit or eliminate corporate contributions and expenditures in both state and national elections. They also sought to charge state lawmakers with asking congressional delegates to overrule Citizens United by amending the U.S. Constitution.

Amendment 2 in Minnesota was an extremely important measure for the future of the state's elections. Amendment 2 would have imposed a strict photo ID requirement at the polls, and although support for the amendment was strong over the summer, it ultimately failed by a few points. This show of support for voters' rights at the polls followed on the heels of Maine voters restoring Election Day Registration in November 2011 after the legislature eliminated it earlier that summer. It seems that given the chance, voters are willing to make changes to election policy and ensure access to the polls.

This post was written by Nonprofit VOTE Intern Lauren Dobbs. Lauren graduated from Boston University with a BA in International Relations in 2011 and will be attending graduate school next fall to obtain an MSc in Development Studies.

2013 Elections on the Horizon

Although there is no presidential election, voters will still make critical decisions about state and local government leaders in 2013. There will be gubernatorial and state legislative elections in both New Jersey and Virginia on November 5th after June primaries.

Throughout the year voters in various cities will decide mayoral elections. The U.S. Conference of Mayors has yet to post a full list of 2013 contests, but you can browse a list of major cities holding elections this year, including Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

While local elections may not receive the funding or attention of national contests, the outcome will nevertheless impact local revenue, spending, and policy decisions. Your organization can have a tremendous influence on these local elections--browse our voter engagement resources for ideas.

Election Highlights from 2012

The 2012 election is over, but there's plenty to learn from the results. Early voting was popular, particularly in battleground states: 69% of votes in Nevada were cast early along with 53% in Florida, 72% in Colorado, and 42% in Iowa. Many voters are taking advantage of early voting opportunities and the flexibility it affords in deciding when and how to vote. These changes are causing nonprofits, communities, and campaigns to rethink the ways they approach Election Day.

Minority voters cast a record 28% of the votes, up from 26% in 2008. For the first time ever, black voters may have voted at a higher rate than white voters. While this is not yet confirmed, the rise in black turnout has been driven by increases in voter participation, not by demographic shifts, as is often the case with other minority groups. According to Pew Hispanic Center projections, Latinos will account for 40% of the growth in the eligible electorate between now and 2030, at which time 40 million Latinos will be eligible to vote--up from 23.7 million now.

Although lagging in overall numbers, youth participation is becoming a critical factor in deciding elections. 46 million youth were eligible to vote in the November 2012 election, including 16.8 million who became eligible since 2008.

Additional turnout information will be available later this year in the next installment of our America Goes to the Polls series and in the Census Current Population Survey: Voting and Registration Supplement.

Long Lines Discouraged 49,000 Voters in Central FL

After the November election, we reported on long lines in a number of states. Now, a new report suggests that as many as 49,000 people in Central Florida did not cast a ballot because of extended waiting times.

Theodore Allen has been analyzing the impact of long lines at the polls since 2004. His analysis of Central Florida's 2012 results compared precinct closing times, Election Day turnout, and results in the presidential race for all Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole county precincts.

His review indicated that for every additional hour that a precinct stayed open past 7 pm--an indicator of line length throughout the day--turnout dropped by as much as 4.8%. Allen suggests that longer ballots (six pages in Orange County) likely caused longer lines which in turn suppressed turnout. Additionally, fewer early voting days probably contributed to longer wait times on Election Day. Many Central Florida voters waited in line for three or more hours after the polls officially closed.

Whatever the contributing factors, voters simply cannot be expected to set aside hours to cast a ballot. We need to focus on ways to improve access to the ballot, and can start by expanding early and absentee voting opportunities. Additional voter education can also help reduce the amount of time voters spend filling out their ballot. Let's kick 2013 off right and resolve to eliminate long lines at the polls.

Measuring Impact, Learning What Works

This year, Nonprofit VOTE undertook a first-of-its-kind collaboration to assess the capacity of service providers to promote voting and their impact in doing so. Working with seven partners in nine states, we tracked the voter engagement activities of 87 local service providers who each agreed to register or collect voter pledges from 250 or more of their clients. With training from their state partner, local nonprofits tracked the voter contact information of over 40,000 people receiving services--15,110 people registered to vote and another 25,355 clients and staff members filled out pledge to vote cards. Everyone received a follow up mailing and/or call with state-specific voting information. The participating nonprofits represented a diverse pool of organizations, including community action agencies, immigrant serving nonprofits, health centers, affordable housing groups, family and children focused agencies, shelters, and disability programs spread across states like Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina.

Early next year, we will review state voter files to find out if the 40,000 people contacted voted in the November election and if, for example, they were first time voters or were already registered but infrequent voters who didn't vote in the 2010 midterm. We're also conducting in-depth interviews with 26 of the participating nonprofits to hear firsthand how they conducted voter engagement, the capacity challenges they faced, and what did and didn’t work. Together, the metrics and case studies will create a more robust roadmap to allow a far greater number of nonprofit service providers to incorporate voter engagement into their work in future election cycles and to do so with greater effectiveness and impact. Stay tuned.

Webinar Series Returns in 2013

For a number of years, we've sought to fill an information void on voting and elections in the nonprofit sector with our webinar series. Webinars are free of charge for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. They are recorded and made available on-demand online, along with the PowerPoint presentation and audio file.

Our webinar series will return in early 2013 covering a variety of nonprofit voter engagement topics such as:

• Candidate Engagement - Forums, Questionnaires, Appearances, and More
• Staying Nonpartisan - Voter Engagement Guidelines for 501(c)(3)
• Organizations Nonprofit Voter Registration Voter Turnout in the 2012
• Election Ballot Measure Advocacy - How to Take a Stand on the Issues 

A full schedule will be available next month. In the meantime, browse our webinar library and visit our YouTube channel.

Partner Spotlight: National Association of Community Health Centers

As the year comes to an end, we want to recognize the work of our many state and national partners, along with the local nonprofits who made an impact on voter turnout by registering and educating their communities.

In 2012, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) had 175 members that conducted voter registration activities. The participating health centers were located in 34 states--from Oklahoma to Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Hawaii--representing both urban and rural locations with mixed demographics. These health centers registered or re-registered over 25,000 voters and collected an additional 10,000 voter pledges.

Although NACHC has managed their Community Health Vote program for a number of years, in 2012 they made great strides in working to develop a reservoir of best practices to help additional health centers determine what strategies might be successful at their specific sites. Health centers engaged in a variety of voter registration, education, and get-out-the-vote activities: a health center in Philadelphia distributed educational materials on voter ID, while centers in Las Vegas and North Carolina provided transportation to the polls during early voting. Some health centers established voter registration and information kiosks in waiting rooms. NACHC also maintained a national number that voters could text to find their polling place which over 1,000 individuals utilized. A provider in South Carolina helped a 108-year-old woman register and vote for the first time.

The National Voter Registration Act requires health centers that enroll patients in WIC and Medicare to ask about voter registration. Thus, many health centers already offer voter registration on an ongoing basis and have used this requirement to consider how to expand voter registration to other points of service. Rather than episodic registration drives, some are considering how to maintain voter engagement efforts year round while expanding the work during general elections.

One barrier is that there is no template for doing this work at health centers because their staffing, foot traffic, services, and populations vary so much. A half dozen health centers participated in case studies to provide ideas and guidance for others moving forward. Like other nonprofits it is often left to the individual organization to determine what will work best for their constituents and community.

Election Day Registration is Popular in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, one in eight ballots--almost a million votes in all--came from voters who registered on Election Day just before voting in three recent statewide elections--November 2008, November 2010, and the June 2012 gubernatorial recall.

The popularity of the law in Wisconsin has remained relatively steady in general elections since 1984, ranging from a rate of 6.5% of all voters in 2002 to nearly 20% in 2006, when 1,500 small towns were required for the first time to register voters.

Election Day Registration allows voters to correct or update information before casting a ballot, provides a remedy for voters who find themselves omitted from the rolls, and accommodates those who decide to participate at the last minute. States that employ some form of same-day registration tend to have higher turnout rates than those without it.

Nevertheless, there have been several unsuccessful attempts to repeal Election Day Registration in Wisconsin by those who claim that it burdens election clerks and increases the risk of voter fraud. However, many clerks support the law and investigations have found no significant fraud problems. One city clerk said she sets up a separate area for registration so it doesn't slow others who are ready to vote and noted that "We've learned how to work with the current laws and we've got a pretty streamlined process."

Serving Democracy: Nonprofits Promote Voter Engagement in 2012

With Election Day now behind us, it's critical to acknowledge the role the nonprofit sector played in registering, educating, and engaging voters in 2012.

Nonprofit VOTE's Executive Director, George Pillsbury, authored an article that is featured in the current issue of The Nonprofit Quarterly. "Serving Democracy: Nonprofits Promote Voter Engagement in 2012" profiles the growing role of nonprofit service providers in mobilizing their communities to vote. It describes the rationale for it, the research behind it, and how it has continued expanding this year. It's a call for the entire nonprofit sector to do more now and in the cycles to come.

We've come a long way as a sector, but there's much more to come. Read the full article online or download the PDF. It's not too early to start thinking about what your organization can do in 2013!

2012 Ballot Measures: Budgets and Public Services

Ballot measures give citizens the opportunity to directly accept or reject laws or amendments. This year, voters in many states cast ballots on proposals related to revenue, spending, and public services.

In California, voters passed both Propositions 30 and 39, which raised income taxes and corporate taxes, respectively, as a means to prevent cuts to education and fund clean energy jobs. Oregon voters also came out in favor of education when they passed Measure 85, which allocates the corporate income and excise tax "kicker" refund to the General Fund to support K through 12 public education. Oregonians also voted down Measure 84, which would have phased out inheritance and estate taxes.

Some measures that would have severely limited states' power to raise revenue were also defeated. Florida voters rejected Amendment 3, which proposed a limit on state revenue based solely on inflation and population. Similarly, Michigan's Proposal 5 would have required a two-thirds majority in the state legislature in order to raise taxes. The proposal failed, partly because many believed it would have caused gridlock in the state legislature, rendering representatives incapable of raising taxes at all. A majority of New Hampshire voters voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that would ban any new taxes on personal income, however, as an amendment it required a two-thirds majority to become law.

Voters in Arizona and South Dakota voted down sales tax increases aimed at supporting public services. Arizona's Proposition 204, which would have renewed a one-cent sales tax to fund education, failed at the polls. Similarly, Measure 15 in South Dakota, which would have established a one percent sales tax increase in order to fund both education and health care, was also defeated. Voters in Oklahoma struck down an annual increase in property taxes by voting against Question 758.

Find out how nonprofits can get involved in ballot measure education and advocacy.

This post was written by Nonprofit VOTE Intern Lauren Dobbs. Lauren graduated from Boston University with a BA in International Relations in 2011 and will be attending graduate school next fall to obtain an MSc in Development Studies.

Record Turnout in Massachusetts in 2012

On November 6th Massachusetts voters set a turnout record with 3,184,196 people casting ballots--breaking the previous record set in 2008 of 3,102,995. In total, 73.3% of registered voters made it to the polls.

Congrats to MassVOTE and the countless nonprofits who worked to encourage turnout in their communities this year!

Election Improvements Still Needed

Communities frequently served by nonprofits made impressive gains in the electorate this year. However, there are still a number of electoral improvements that can be made.

Shorter Lines, More Early In-Person Voting
A curtailed in-person early voting period in Florida led to 7 hour lines, discouraged voters, and an overwhelmed system. On Election Day, voters in Miami-Dade County waited in line until 1am to cast a ballot. In Ohio, the periods for casting a ballot early in-person and by mail were reduced. Early in-person voting the weekend before Election Day was initially eliminated but later restored through the courts due to the estimated 100,000 Ohioans expected to cast ballots in the three days before November 6th. Snaking lines of early voters were captured across the state.

Although long lines can be the result of a lengthy ballot, expanding--rather than eliminating--early voting opportunities can reduce wait times, offer voters increased flexibility, and ease the strain on election offices.

Improved Voter Registration 
All eligible voters should have the opportunity to cast a ballot that will be counted. Unfortunately, voters across the country arrived at the polls only to discover that their name was not on the rolls. The first step in fixing this is to ensure that voters can register easily. Many states have implemented online voter registration, streamlining the registration process. California's online registration system went live for the first time in September and over one million Californians used it to register in the course of five weeks. 49% of new registrants were between the ages of 18 and 29.

Additionally, online platforms that allow voters to verify their registration status can reduce problems at the polls. Not every state has this kind of tool, and currently in Massachusetts when voters need to confirm their registration status on Election Day they have to call their city hall, leading to long hold times and inefficient processing.

Fixing Problems on Election Day
Beyond improvements to advanced registration, Election Day Registration (EDR) allows voters to update or correct their voter registration information at their polling site on Election Day. EDR ensures that recent moves or name changes do not impact a voter's ability to participate. This kind of flexibility makes it easier to participate and states that have Election Day Registration consistently lead the nation in voter turnout.

While 2012 was a great indicator of rising turnout, there are still improvements to be made. All eligible voters who want to participate should be able to make their voices heard at the polls--without waiting 7 hours.

Nonprofit Voters Increase Share of the Electorate

In 2012, your organization and the entire nonprofit sector helped encourage communities across the country to participate and vote. Clearly your efforts to register, educate, and engage voters paid off.

This year, lower-income, younger, and more diverse communities frequently served by nonprofits accounted for a greater share of voter turnout than ever before. While some of this can be attributed to population increases, it was also aided by unprecedented voter education and engagement efforts from the nonprofit and civic sector.

• Young voters (under 30) defied predictions by claiming a higher share of total turnout in 2012 (19%) than in 2008 (18%).
• The Latino share of the electorate continued to rise, increasing to 10% this year.
• Black voters maintained their share of the electorate from 2008, holding at 13%.
• Voters with family income below $50,000 increased their share of the electorate, jumping three points to 41%, despite the fact that the population of that bracket has remained unchanged from 2008.

Read the full report for additional details on the changing electorate, early voting, participation trends, and more. Congratulations again on successfully promoting voting and engaged and active citizenship in 2012!

It's Tuesday November 6th: Election Day!

Election Day is finally here. You already have the information and resources you need to help your community vote. Today is about celebrating the election and reminding and encouraging people to vote. Good luck and Happy Election Day!

Are You Ready for Tomorrow?

Tomorrow is Election Day! In areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy, there may be changes to official polling locations that are not reflected in online tools. Be sure to check with your local elections office for updates to polling sites.

 

If you need a little push before heading to the polls, watch JFK ask every American to turn out and vote and a fourth grade class implore you to "vote for somebody".

 

As the results unfold, find out about turnout with the CNN National Exit Poll (click the Exit Poll tab), CIRCLE - Civic Youth, and Pew Hispanic. Learn more about the national exit poll.  

 Be Prepared with Your Election Day Toolbox!

 

Advertise polling hours prominently on your website and in your lobby. Find yours with our 50 state map. It's not too late to download a "Vote November 6th" poster. Use the tools below to equip voters with the information necessary to ensure they successfully cast a ballot.

 

Google Poll Finder:

The 2012 Google Poll Finder tool uses official information from state elections offices and Secretaries of State to provide voters with current voting information. Type in your address to find your polling place and directions. In areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy, be sure to check directly with your local elections office for any updates to polling locations--these will likely not be reflected in online tools.

• Embed the tool on your website to raise the profile of the election.
• Share the link with your audience.
• Set up a computer in your lobby to allow voters to check their voting information.

You can also use your state's online poll finder or contact your local elections office.

 

Check Your Registration:

Wondering if and where you're registered to vote?

• 45 states have online registration look up tools.
• Contact your local elections office to confirm your registration.

Avoid potential problems at the polls and double check your registration before Election Day.

 

National Hotlines:

If you aren't near a computer and need voting information, call a national hotline for assistance. They are also a great resource if you have trouble casting your ballot.

• Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) or visit www.866ourvote.org.
• Call 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (839-8682) or visit www.yaeshora.info.

Contact your local elections office for help or with questions.

 

And for more!

• Browse additional 2012 election tools and resources.
• Learn more about ballot measures and voting as an ex-offender or student.
• Make voters aware of their rights at the polls in your state.
• On the go? Get the VoterHub mobile app--a collaboration between AT&T and the Voting Information Project.

On Election Day, don't hesitate to call your local elections office with questions or concerns. Find yours. 

Happy Election Day Eve from Nonprofit VOTE!

Your Election Day Toolbox

Be prepared to assist and encourage voters on Tuesday. Voters are more likely to participate if they believe turnout will be high, and your reminders can convince people to head to the polls.

Advertise polling hours prominently on your website and in your lobby. Find yours with our 50 state map and download a "Vote November 6th" poster.

Use the tools below to equip voters with the information necessary to ensure they successfully cast a ballot.

Google Poll Finder
The 2012 Google Poll Finder tool uses official information from state elections offices and Secretaries of State to provide voters with current voting information. Type in your address to find your polling place and directions. Use the Ballot Summary Menu Bar to view candidates for president, Congress, and the state legislature.

• Embed the tool on your website to raise the profile of the election.
• Share the link with your audience.
• Set up a computer in your lobby to allow voters to check their voting information.

You can also use your state's online poll finder or contact your local elections office.

Check Your Registration
Wondering if and where you're registered to vote?

• 45 states have online registration look up tools.
• Contact your local elections office to confirm your registration.

Avoid potential problems at the polls and double check your registration before Election Day.

National Hotlines
If you aren't near a computer and need voting information, call a national hotline for assistance. They are also a great resource if you have trouble casting your ballot.

• Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) or visit www.866ourvote.org.
• Call 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (839-8682) or visit www.yaeshora.info.

Contact your local elections office for help or with questions.

Voter Guides and Sample Ballots
Nonpartisan voter guides are often provided by your Secretary of State, local chapters of the League of Women Voters, major newspapers, or voter education partners. Samples: Minnesota Votes, North Carolina Voter Guide, and California Easy Voter Guide.

You can see a list of candidates on your ballot using the Google Poll Finder tool. Sample ballots are often available on your state elections website or accessible through online voter information portals. Examples include New Mexico, Miami-Dade County, and Alabama. Paper copies are usually available at your local elections office.

And for more!

• Browse additional 2012 election tools and resources.
• Learn more about ballot measures and voting as an ex-offender or student.
• Make voters aware of their rights at the polls in your state.
• On the go? Get the VoterHub mobile app--a collaboration between AT&T and the Voting Information Project.

On Election Day, don't hesitate to call your local elections office with questions or concerns. Find yours.