The Potential in 2016

3.7 million people need to register / re- register to vote in the general of 2016 The largest voter registration gaps are within community of color, youth (18-34) and single women. Nonprofits are seen as the ‘sleeping giants’ of civic engagement

Who Cares?

Voting Matters Elected officials pay attention to who votes – and who doesn’t Policy decisions skew toward the interests of voters Voting builds investment in community issues and is an entry point for other forms of advocacy

Voting Matters Improves client outcomes – Reduced recidivism rates (Uggen and Manza, 2004) – Voters more likely to follow issues, volunteer, and engage friends and family members (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, 2008) – Increase in voter registration correlated with decreased unemployment ( CIRCLE, 2012 ) – Civic participation seen as a key social determinant of health ( World Health Organization, 2004 )

Why Nonprofits? Daily contact year-round with communities underrepresented in decision-making Trusted messengers – more than business or government* Ability to integrate civic engagement into service delivery, ongoing programs, and missions *Harris Polls, 2010

Why Nonprofits? Our communities need help with voting; barriers exist Our communities need to be inspired to vote and participate It’s part of our missions We’re the only sector left that is truly nonpartisan It helps us raise money

Why Isn’t Everybody Doing It?

The Old Narrative We don’t have capacity It’s too complicated to stay nonpartisan My board won’t support it It’s too political, too divisive We will be targeted with attacks We’ll lose donors Clients will feel manipulated We’ll be seen as supporting Democrats

Building A New Narrative What if we were at the table instead of on the table? What if voter engagement was a part of business as usual? What if 100 percent of our clients voted in every election?

Principles of Successful Voter Engagement Plan ahead Focus on direct voter contact Craft a strong “active ask” Repetition, repetition, repetition Have fun

Voter Registration Principles First step to voting – 8 out of 10 newly registered voters will vote Have an active ask Ask more than once Set realistic goals based on staff capacity Have a plan to collect and turn in forms

Voter Registration Tactics Set up a table in your lobby/waiting room At your existing events At job training and other classes Integrated with intake In one-on-one services like credit counseling sessions and case management discussions When hiring staff

Local Example Vote For Homes Coalition – Watch video (only 6 minutes!)video Linking issues and elections Protect Voting Rights Nuts and Bolts of Registration

Voter Rights Quiz True or False: You can be prevented from voting if you are homeless. FALSE: You cannot be prevented from voting if you are homeless. Just register to vote with the address of a shelter or program that will let you receive mail.

Voter Rights Quiz True or False: You can only register to vote if you are 18. FALSE: You can register to vote before your 18th birthday as long as you turn 18 on or before the very next election.

Voter Rights Quiz True or False: You can vote while you are in prison if you are serving time for a misdemeanor only. TRUE: You can vote from a penal institution by absentee ballot if you are convicted of a misdemeanor. To get an absentee ballot, you must fill out an absentee ballot request form/application and return it by the appropriate deadline. From now on, you will also need to include your driver’s license number on your application. If you don’t have a driver’s license, you will need the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Voter Rights Quiz True or False: You cannot vote if you have a prior felony conviction. FALSE: In Pennsylvania, people with felony convictions on their record can vote as long as they are not actually serving time for a felony conviction when they vote or on Election Day. The law requiring people with felony convictions to wait five years after release before voting was eliminated in Now, all people convicted of felonies can register as soon as they are released, so long as they are not in a halfway house on pre- release status.

Voter Rights Quiz True or False: You cannot vote if you’re on probation, parole, or house arrest. FALSE: People who are on probation, parole, or house arrest can vote. Also, people who are awaiting trial can vote, even if in prison. The only time a person convicted of a felony cannot vote is when s/he is serving her/his sentence behind bars or is on pre-release status.

Voter Rights Quiz True or False: People are not allowed to have help inside the voting booth. FALSE: If you are unable to read the information on the machine or the ballot for any reason, or if you cannot operate the machine without help, you are entitled to assistance. Just fill out the Declaration of Assistance form available at your polling place on Election Day, then choose someone to help you. While you have the right to choose the person who will help you, your employer, an agent of your employer, your union leader, an agent of your union or the Judge of Elections CANNOT be your assistance provider.

Voter Rights Quiz True or False: You do not have to have ID to vote. TRUE: In January 2014, the Commonwealth Court held that Pennsylvania’s strict photo ID law was unconstitutional. The Commonwealth is not appealing the decision. As a result, voters do not need photo ID to vote and poll workers should not ask every voter for ID. Only first time voters or voters voting for the first time at a polling site, must show ID. First time voters can show photo or non-photo ID. If you forget your ID or if you don’t have ID, you can vote by a paper ballot called a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will be counted if it is filled out properly and election officials can match the signature on your voter registration to the signature you add to the outside of the envelope in which you will place your provisional ballot. PS – Acceptable forms of ID include: voter ID card, PA driver’s license or any ID issued by PENNDOT, a passport, Armed forces ID, an Employee ID, a utility bill, a bank statement, or a paycheck – if these last three show your current address. Just remember, if you don’t have ID, you are still allowed to vote by provisional ballot!

Nuts and Bolts of Filling Out the Voter Registration Form

If you are homeless… In Philadelphia, use address where you get mail. If you live in a rural area or are homeless and do not have a street address or a permanent residence, use the map on the printed form to show where you live or spend most of your time, and mail it to your county voter registration office.

Important Dates for PA 3/28 last day to register before Primary 4/26 Primary Election 10/11 last day to register before General 11/8 General Election Day

Resources Alliance for Justice (866) NP-LOBBY Project Vote Vote for Homes Coalition

Questions?

Contact Erin Casey Executive Director, Pennsylvania Voice Phone: (267) Jennine Miller Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for Project H.O.M.E, Vote for Homes Coalition Phone: