VOTER REGISTRATION IN 2016 R EGISTER Y OUR C LIENTS AND C ONSTITUENTS TO V OTE Presented by All attendees will receive a copy of this PowerPoint presentation and a link to the recorded webinar

ABOUT US About Us 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

TODAY’S PRESENTERS Who Helena Berbano Field Coordinator Nonprofit VOTE Julian Johannesen Director of Research and Training Nonprofit VOTE

AGENDA Agenda Why Voter Registration Nonpartisan Guidelines Making a Plan Doing Voter Registration

There’s a lot on the ballot in 2016 beyond the presidential election, including: 38 US Senate Races 435 US House Races 12 Governors’ Races 42 State Senates on Ballot 44 State Houses on Ballot 2016 IS ABOUT MORE THAN POTUS 2016

Ultimately, ballot measures will qualify in 2016! Topics include: Marijuana legalization Gun control Minimum wage Healthcare BALLOT MEASURE BONANZA 2016

42 of the 100 largest cities in the country have municipal elections for both mayor and city council! MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN

In 2012, 1 in 4 eligible Americans was not registered to vote Disparities in voter registration & turnout Disparities in voter outreach Who votes matters! WHY VOTER REGISTRATION Why Voter Registration

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 WHY VOTER REGISTRATION Why Voter Registration

Longer term benefits to your organizations and your community: Get the Attention of Candidates Build Community Clout Foster Community-Based Leadership WHY VOTER REGISTRATION Why Voter Registration

NEW FACTSHEETS AND CHECKLISTS bit.ly/NPVResourceLibrary

NONPARTISAN GUIDELINES Guidelines

THE BASIC GUIDELINE “A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may not support or oppose a candidate for public office” amendment to US Tax Code 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

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 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

Nonprofits who receive Community Service Block Grant funding (e.g. Community Action Agencies) and Head Start agencies may not: –Use CSBG or Head Start funds to pay for staff or materials to conduct voter registration. –Use CSBG or Head Start funds to provide rides to the polls. AmeriCorps members cannot conduct voter registration during work hours. FEDERAL FUNDS AND VOTER REGISTRATION Guidelines

NEW FACTSHEETS AND CHECKLISTS

MAKING A PLAN Making a Plan

Many people are already registered 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. WHAT TO EXPECT Making a Plan

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 Making a Plan

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 a Plan

DOING VOTER REGISTRATION Doing Voter Reg

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 Doing Voter Reg

September 27th is NVRD! Sign up now at: bit.ly/MyNVRD or visit NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY Doing Voter Reg

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 Doing Voter Reg

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.

Provide training for staff and volunteers on: Why this is important Answering FAQs about voting Answering FAQs about the voter registration form RECRUIT/TRAIN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS Doing Voter Reg

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 Doing Voter Reg

NEW FACTSHEETS AND CHECKLISTS More new factsheets coming soon: Voter Registration Training Script and Common Responses Tips for Making the Ask Voter Registration Checklist FAQ Voter Registration State Filling Out and Returning the Voter Registration Form

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 Doing Voter Reg

Frequently missed items Eligibility check boxes ID number Date of birth Party affiliation Signature and date HELPING COMPLETE THE PAPER FORM Doing Voter Reg

Online voter registration is a rapidly growing trend! 2/3rds of states now have paperless online voter registration! What about collecting information for GOTV? PAPERLESS ONLINE REGISTRATION Doing Voter Reg

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 A PAPER-BASED ONLINE TOOL Doing Voter Reg

When interacting with clients, let them know they can register to vote in your agency! Use your communications channels - social media, website, newsletter Create a display in your agency using signs, posters, decorations PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION Promote!

MORE RESOURCES

VOTE (8683) Nonprofit VOTE 89 South Street Suite 203 Boston, MA Helena Berbano Julian Johannesen