GET READY FOR ELECTION DAY! What Nonprofits Can Do To Get Out and Protect the Vote Between Now and Election Day

ABOUT US About A national hub of voter engagement resources and trainings to help nonprofits encourage our staff and the people we serve to participate and vote. Find more about our mission and partners on our website:

TODAY’S PRESENTERS Who Avi Green Co-Director MassVOTE

AGENDA Agenda What Nonprofits Can Do Getting Out The Vote Election Day Tools and Resources Questions

WHAT NONPROFITS CAN DO One Rule: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit may not support or oppose candidates for public office. Voter Engagement: However, 501(c)(3) may undertake a wide variety of nonpartisan voter engagement activities, including: –Voter Registration –Voter Education –Get Out the Vote Get Out The Vote

GET OUT THE VOTE Agenda Principles Talking about Voting! Be positive Be helpful Be prepared Early Voting GOTV Activities

PRINCIPLES OF GOTV Make it Personal: Personal contact works best! Promote Turnout: Everyone’s doing it. Turnout’s expected to be high Create Urgency: There’s a lot at stake. On issues, for your nonprofit, for the community Make it Easy: Voting’s easy to do Get Out The Vote

Your relationship with your staff, constituents and community is one of your greatest assets Face to face interaction is most effective Use every interaction and all of your communications channels to talk about voting TALKING ABOUT VOTING! Talking About Voting

Use positive messages –Your voice, your vote! –Stand up and be counted! –You decide! Don’t let others decide for you! Avoid negative ones –Scale back voter suppression talk that makes voting seem confusing or hard BE POSITIVE Talking About Voting

It’s your civic duty: As an American citizen, it is your responsibility to do your civic duty and vote on Election Day. Improve your future: Voting brings us together as Americans and is something you can do to help strengthen your community. All eligible Americans should cast a ballot on Election Day for their future, their children’s futures, and the future of our great nation. Taking control: Voting is your chance to take control over what happens to your family and your community. Many Americans are struggling these days and all Americans deserve a say in how to solve these problems. MESSAGES THAT WORK Talking About Voting

Stand up: It’s important to stand up for our rights and elect leaders who will lift up our country and our communities. America’s future is our future, and we need to vote and make sure the politicians hear our voices and know we count and we matter. We can’t complain about the way things are going if we don’t take responsibility and stand up for what we believe in. Your voice matters: Your vote — along with everyone’s vote — matters. It lets politicians know that the American people have an opinion, and that they need to listen to what we have to say. Understand the rules: In order to participate in our democracy and have your voice heard, you need to understand the voting rules in your state, register on time, and show up at the correct polling place.. MESSAGES THAT WORK (CONT.) Talking About Voting

Assume that people plan to vote and ask questions based on that assumption –Are you voting early or on Election Day? –What time are you voting? Before work? After work? –How are you getting to your polling place? –What help do you need voting? “Scheduling an appointment” to vote –Research shows that being asked to think about or visualize your plan to vote increases the chance that you will vote BE HELPFUL Talking About Voting

BE PREPARED Make sure you can answer questions from your clients and constituents about things like: How to vote early The day of the week and date of the election The polling place hours How to find their polling place What ID they might need to vote How to get help voting Get Out The Vote

EARLY VOTING MATTERS! Vote by Mail/Absentee Ballots: –Find and promote the deadlines for applying for and turning in an absentee ballot. Early Voting In Person: –Promote where and when to vote early in person Get Out The Vote

BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY Target your audiences and activities Remind people to vote Help people vote Create visibility and excitement Get Out The Vote

GOTV ACTIVITIES Orient staff to answer basic election questions When providing services, ask people if they need help voting Hold a Get Out The Vote event (like a Trick or Vote event) Give out sample ballots, voter guides, palm cards Remind anyone who calls your office about Election Day Get Out The Vote

ON ELECTION DAY Provide Assistance Time Off Celebrate Democracy

Talk to clients and constituents about voting and offer assistance Help constituents find their polling place Promote the toll free voter assistance hotlines and the free smart phone app: OUR-VOTE Ve-Y-Vota PROVIDE ELECTION ASSISTANCE Election Day

Allow staff to take part in nonpartisan get out the vote activities Or as a staff person, take personal time to work for a campaign Become a poll worker or poll monitor TIME OFF ON ELECTION DAY Election Day

Make the election visible and create a festive atmosphere Ask people about voting and if possible provide assistance CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY! Election Day

TOOLS AND RESOURCES General Voting Information Early Voting Polling Place Finders Help Lines

Learn about voting in your state (early voting, voter ID, polling place finders, etc.) with these resources: Nonprofit VOTE’s Voting in Your State The League of Women Voters’ Vote411 STATE VOTING INFORMATION

Nonprofit VOTE 50 State Guide: Links to official information on Absentee and Early in-person voting on your state election website Long Distance Voter: The absentee ballot experts and guide to early voting US Vote Foundation: Fill out, print and send in absentee ballot request on your state’s form Call your local election board for more! EARLY VOTING

POLLING PLACE FINDERS Resources Many states now have online polling place finders. You can find these sites by visiting Nonprofit VOTE’S Voting in Your State page and selecting your state In addition, The Pew Center on the States’ Voting Information Project has released a set of tools that will allow people to find their polling place online

HELP LINES Resources Two national voter help lines will be available on Election Day: OUR-VOTE And Ve-Y-Vota

VOTE (8683) Nonprofit VOTE 89 South Street Suite 203 Boston, MA Avi Green Julian Johannesen Contact