Voter Participation Training. Nonprofit VOTE - State and local voter engagement initiatives...
Transcript of Voter Participation Training. Nonprofit VOTE - State and local voter engagement initiatives...
Nonprofit VOTE - State and local voter engagement initiatives Expanding the role of America’s nonprofits in voting and
elections
Closing participation gaps for underrepresented and lower turnout communities
Gaps in Voter Turnout in CA 2006 & 2008
56%
38% 37% 34%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
White Black Latino Asian
2006 Election
68.50%65%
57%52%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
White Black Latino Asian
Percent turnout of citizen eligible voters
2008 Election
Gap in Voter Turnout by Age
51%
60%
69%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Age 18 to 24 Age 25 to 44 Age 45+
Gap in Voter Turnout in California by Age in the 2008 Presidential Election
Rise in Voter Turnout in CA
57%
60%
62%
50%
52%
54%
56%
58%
60%
62%
64%
2000 2004 2008
California Turnout Rising% turnout of eligible voters - presidential elections
Voter Turnout in Midterm ElectionsTotal Ballots Cast as a Percentage of VEP
37.3%41.2%
44.9%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
2002 2006 2010
Voter Turnout in LA County – Recent Elections
City of LA Municipal Election 2011: 12.97%
Statewide Elections – LA County Turnout Midterm Election Nov 2010: 53.77 % CA Special Election May 2009: 19.99 % Presidential Election Nov 2008: 81.92 %
Barriers to Voting
Why do you think these gaps exist in voter turnout?
Why do you think voter turnout can be so low in some elections, but much higher in other elections?
It Matters Who Votes
Y es on Minimum Wage (Ohio) - 2006
80%
39%
20%30%
40%50%60%70%
80%90%
Under$15,000
$15-30,000 $30-50,000 $50-75,000 $75-100,000 $100-$150,000
$150-200,000
Above$200,000
Why Vote?Who Votes Matters Elected officials know who votes. Elected officials and
candidates will pay less attention to, make fewer appearances in, and appeal less to neighborhoods that don't turnout. They pay more attention to communities who do vote.
The people who vote have a powerful impact on public policy and government and influence laws, appointments, and budgeting. You and your constituents’ policy and political concerns won’t be heard if you/they don't vote.
How have your organizations, or services that you and your family receive, been impacted by the CA budget?
Size of Nonprofit Sector
1.6 million active organizations in US (18,622 active nonprofits in LA County)
Employing 14 million people (246,000 people employed in LA County – 6% of workforce)
Recruiting 65 million volunteers annually
And serving millions every day
And Reach….
Unique and trusting relationships with the communities you serve.
Have a vested interest in ensuring that the priorities of your communities are represented
Ability to integrate voter outreach into ongoing activities
Remaining Nonpartisan
Do use nonpartisan voter participation to build more powerful and engaged communities
DON’TS – as 501c3 organization… Oppose or Endorse a candidate running for office
Give resources ($$ etc) to candidates
Rank candidates on an issue to bias towards one candidate
Tell people how to vote or which party to affiliate with
Helpful Resources: Nonprofits, Voting and Elections Toolkit Alliance for Justice:1-866-NPLOBBY
Ballot Measures
Ballot measures are laws not candidates 501c3 nonprofits can support or oppose
ballot measures Advocacy around ballot measures is
considered a lobbying activity, subject to normal lobbying limits
Behind the Plan Get Buy In:
• Executive Direcot or Board of Directors
• Rest of staff
• Use voter toolkit Identify a point person:
• Program staff, public policy, direct service, communications staff, receptionist, outreach worker
Keep it Simple Plan Around Election Deadlines:
• voter reg & education
• voter education & GOTV
Assess Your Voter Engagement Resources and Challenges
YOUR NONPROFIT
Who’s Involved: Front office staff, management, outreach workers, policy staff, administrative staff, social workers, activities directors, volunteers & interns
TARGETWho is your Audience: Staff, Board, Volunteers and Clients
COMMUNICATEPoints of Contacts: How you’ll reach your audience? In person, on website, newsletter, twitter, etc
INTEGRATEWhere: points of service, intake, in waiting rooms, classes & trainings, meetings, community events
Step 1: Voter Registration
Registration Deadline is 15 days before an election
Focus on Month before the Deadline
Updating Registration is as Important as New
Start with your Staff
Vote by mail
Helpful Resources: A Nonprofit’s Guide to Voter Registration
Voter Registration
You can Register to Vote if you are: A U.S. citizen A resident of California At least 18 years old by the next election Not serving time for a felony or still on parole for a felony Not declared to be mentally incompetent by a court
You will need to re-register if: You have moved. You have changed your name. You want to change the political party you chose on your
last registration form.
Step 1: Voter RegistrationDecide your Approach:
Level 1: Publicize and Promote
Voter reg deadlines and how-to’s
Level 2: Do Registration on Site
Incorporate into your ongoing activities and constituent interactions
Level 3: Mobilize & Partner
Identify and collaborate with partners in your community
Step 1: Voter RegistrationWHERE?(points of contact)
In Office
(Be a permanent distribution site
contact LA County 562-462-2881)
Online
• Your organization’s website (Ya Es Hora online voter registration tool)
• LAVote.net
At Meetings
In the Community
Step 2:Voter Education
Conducting Nonpartisan voter education efforts with your communities.
Webinar: Voter Education For Nonprofits
Voter Education -On the Voting ProcessDisplay or distribute sample ballots, voter guides and
voter assistance hotline information
When: Election date, vote by mail deadlines, polling hours (7am -8pm)
Where: Finding your polling place
How: Voting equipment, how to vote absentee, where to get help voting
Special Circumstances: Ex-offender
Helpful Resources: www.lavote.net
Helpful Hotlines: 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota & 1-888-839-8682
Voter Education -On the Issues
DO educate your community on the issues that matter to your organization.
DO educate all the candidates on issues that matter to the people you serve.
Do advocate and educate on Ballot Measures – you can take a position
DON’T tell voters which candidate is best on your issue or who to vote for.
Helpful Resources: Easy Voter Guide, www.smartvoter.org, CGS Video Voter
Voter Education -On Candidates
DO distribute sample ballots showing all local races
DO co-sponsor a candidate forum or do a candidate questionnaire
DO give people nonpartisan voter guides, lists of websites of all candidates, etc.
DON’T rate candidate’s positions on issues at election time
Helpful Resource: A Nonprofit’s Guide to Hosting a Candidate Forum
Pollworker & Polling Place
Encourage staff or clients to sign up as pollworkers.• Earn $$ - up to $105
• Need to be registered voter
• Student pollworker program
• Bilingual pollworkers are often needed Sign your nonprofit up as a polling place
• Familiar location for patients
• $25 for your nonprofit
Visit www.lavote.net for more information
Step 3: Get-Out-The-Vote
Prepare Staff: staff meeting & communications, payroll stuffers
Make it Personal: conversations about voting Give Voters the Assistance they Need: help reduce
common barriers to voting Turn Up the (nonpartisan) Volume: final days before
an election Identify a Message: make a connection & avoid negative
messages Sign up to be a pollworker or have your nonprofit be a polling
place
Webinar: GOTV & Election Day for Nonprofits
Step 3: Get-Out-The-Vote
Activity Ideas for the Last 2 Weeks Before the Election
Create Visibility: put up posters, set up voter info table,
Provide Help: prepare staff, ask about voting, rides to the polls, call constituents
Raise the Stakes: use all forms of communication, integrate more, provide translated material
On Election Day: remind people, allow staff to do GOTV activities or volunteer as poll workers
Helpful Resource: A dozen easy ways to get out the vote
Why We Vote Have a Reason to Vote
• Candidate, competition, issues
Personal Contact• From family, friend, nonprofit
Low Barriers• It’s easy and accessible
A habit learned from
family and community
Questions?
Marcy Koukhab Sarah Pillsbury
Project Director Project Partner
[email protected] [email protected]
California Participation Project
www.caparticipates.org
(213) 346-3291