VOTER REGISTRATION AT Y OUR N ONPROFIT Presented by.

VOTER REGISTRATIONAT YOUR NONPROFIT

Presented by

ABOUT US

AboutUs

Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with America's nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote.

We are a leading source of nonpartisan training, materials and other resources for nonprofits doing voter engagement work.

Find out more about our mission and partners on our site www.nonprofitvote.org

TODAY’S PRESENTERS

WhoJeff Narabrook

Voter Outreach Director The Office of the Minnesota

Secretary of State

AGENDA

Agenda

Why Voter Registration Nonpartisan Guidelines Making a Plan Doing Voter Registration

• The entire House of Representatives, 33 Senators and 36 Governors will be on ballots across the country!

• Eighty-six ballot questions are certified for spots on 36 statewide ballots in 2014

OPPORTUNITY 2014

Opportunity

• Of the 225 million Americans who are eligible to vote in 2014, roughly 1 in 4 is not registered to vote*

• Engaging the Rising American Electorate• Who votes matters!

*http://www.pewstates.org/uploadedFiles/PCS_Assets/2012/ Pew_Upgrading_Voter_ Registration.pdf

WHY VOTER REGISTRATION

Why VoterRegistration

• Voter registration is the first step on the road to becoming an active and engaged voter

• Registered voters are more likely to join neighborhood activities, contact elected officials and be active citizens*

*http://www.civicyouth.org/civic-engagement-among-registered- voters- and-non- registered-eligible-citizens

WHY VOTER REGISTRATION

Why VoterRegistration

Longer term benefits to your organizations and your community:• Get the Attention of

Candidates• Build Community Clout• Foster Community-Based

Leadership

WHY VOTER REGISTRATION (CONTINUED)

Why VoterRegistration

NONPARTISAN GUIDELINESFOR VOTER REGISTRATION

Guidelines

THE BASIC GUIDELINE

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization MAY NOT support or oppose a candidate for public office.

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations MAY engage in nonpartisan:

• Voter Registration• Voter Education• Get Out The Vote Efforts

Guidelines

When registering someone to vote:• You may not suggest which candidate to

support or which political party to join • You may explain what it means to register

without party affiliation • You may provide nonpartisan voter guides or

encourage people to ask friends or neighbors to learn more about the candidates

GUIDELINES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

Guidelines

Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (aka “Motor Voter”) requires:

• Agencies signing up people for federal benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, SCHIP, WIC, TANF to proactively offer voter registration

• States to designate state-funded programs for people with disabilities to offer voter registration

THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT

Guidelines

MAKING A PLAN

Making aPlan

Getting Started Knowing the Rules

What to expect when starting out:• Updating an address on a

registration is just as important as registering for the first time

• Since many people are already registered, it is useful to combine registration with other activities like a voter pledge card or promoting your services or an event.

GETTING STARTED

Making aPlan

When planning your efforts keep the following in mind:• Put your plan on paper!• Designate a staff person to take the lead• Gain buy-in from the executive director and

staff• Connect with your local elections

office

GETTING STARTED (CONTINUED)

Making aPlan

• Voter registration deadlines– EDR

• Voter registration eligibility requirements– The basics– Pre-registration– Ex-offenders

• State specific rules on voter registration– Turnaround time

KNOWING THE RULES

Making aPlan

http://www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-in-your-state

http://www.fairelectionsnetwork.com/resources/

DOINGVOTER REGISTRATION

When and Where to Do It Training Staff and

Volunteers Getting and Returning

Forms Promoting Your Efforts

DoingVoterReg

• Registration Drive: Conduct registration over the weeks or months leading up to the voter registration deadline in your state, e.g. during August, September and October.

• Single Day: Focus on a single day, like a weekend or special event

WHEN TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION

DoingVoterReg

• September 23rd is National Voter Registration Day!

• Sign up now at:www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY

Doing VoterReg

At your agency : • As a part of services:

Integrated into intake or other interactions with constituents

• Tabling: In your lobby, outside your front door or in a high traffic area

WHERE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION

DoingVoterReg

Outside your agency:• At events: A citizenship

ceremony, a community festival

• In your neighborhood: A highly trafficked location like a transit stop or shopping area

WHERE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION

NOTE: Door-to-door canvassing is not always effective when registering voters.

DoingVoterReg

Provide training for staff and volunteers on:• Why this work is important• Answering frequently asked

questions about voting• Answering questions about

the voter registration form

RECRUIT/TRAIN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

DoingVoterReg

• Confidence, assertiveness and eye contact• “Are you registered to vote at your current

address?”• Be accurate. An incomplete form or a form

filled out incorrectly does not count• Cultural competency when discussing

citizenship or a past felony conviction

MAKING AN EFFECTIVE ASK

DoingVoterReg

• Getting voter registration forms

• Returning completed voter registration forms to your local election office– Turnaround time– Retaining information for GOTV

GETTING AND RETURNING PAPER FORMS

DoingVoterReg

• Frequently missed items– Eligibility check boxes– ID number– Date of birth– Party affiliation– Signature and date

HELPING COMPLETE THE PAPER FORM

DoingVoterReg

• 19 states now have paperless online voter registration

• What about collecting information for GOTV?

PAPERLESS ONLINE REGISTRATION

DoingVoterReg

• Online tools like Nonprofit VOTE’s make registering to vote fast and easy

• Follow the prompts to fill out the form, then print it, sign it, date it and return it to your election officials at the address provided

USING AN ONLINE TOOL

DoingVoterReg

• Create a display in your agency using signs, posters, decorations

• When interacting with clients, let them know they can register to vote in your agency!

• Use your communications like your website and newsletter

PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION

Promote!

MORE RESOURCESwww.nonprofitvote.org

[email protected]

617.357.VOTE (8683)

www.nonprofitvote.org

Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111

Jeff [email protected]

Julian Johannesen

[email protected]