nonprofits increase voting findings from 2012
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Nonprofits increase voting Findings from 2012. Presented by. &. About us. Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the leading source of nonpartisan voter engagement resources for the nonprofit sector. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NONPROFITS INCREASE VOTINGFINDINGS FROM 2012
Presented by
&
ABOUT US
About
Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the leading source of nonpartisan voter engagement resources for the nonprofit sector.
CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement at Tufts University) conducts research on civic education and young Americans’ voting and political participation, service, activism, and other forms of civic engagement
Find more about our mission and partners on our websites: www.nonprofitvote.org www.civicyouth.org
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Who
Isela Gutiérrez-Gunter
Research Associate and Latino Outreach
CoordinatorDemocracy North
Carolina
Kei Kawashima - Ginsberg
Deputy DirectorCIRCLE
George PillsburyExecutive Director
Nonprofit VOTE
AGENDA
Agenda
Background Study Design Demographics and Turnout What Works Implications
Over half of all eligible voters were not contacted by a campaign in 2012.
Source: American National Election Studies, 2008 and 2012 Survey of Political Involvement and Participation in Politics
PARTICIPATION GAPS
YOUTH TURNOUT IN NATIONAL ELECTIONSReduced contact in midterm elections contributes to lower turnout including youth voters
• Political Voice: Non-voters show higher support for nonprofit and government services
• Personal Benefits: People who register connect with neighbors and engage in community affairs
• Power for Organizations: Nonprofits whose constituents vote have greater access and clout
WHAT’S MISSED
Background
• Access and Trust: Nonprofits have unique access to underrepresented populations
• Reverse Door knocking: People “knock” on our doors for services.
A ROLE FOR NONPROFITS
Background
STUDY DESIGN
• Partners in 7 states: Recruited participants
• 94 nonprofits: Community health centers, multi-service agencies and other service providers
• 33,741 voters: Tracked face-to-face voter engagement with voters at their agency
WHO’S INVOLVED
Design
• Registrations and Pledges: People were asked to register to vote or sign a pledge to vote
• Matching to Voter File: Nonprofit Voters matched to voter file for demographics/turnout– State VAN: Matching– Catalist: Analysis
TRACKING THE NONPROFIT VOTERS
Design
DEMOGRAPHICS AND TURNOUT:
Quantitative Findings
Nonprofit Voters were a much more diverse group of registered voters than registered voters in the general population.
NONPROFIT VOTERS A DIVERSE GROUP
Quant
Nonprofit Voters outperformed their counterparts in the general population by 6 points.
NONPROFIT VOTERS HAD HIGH TURNOUT
Latino and Asian American Nonprofit Voters out- performed their counterparts by 18 points.
BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
Nonprofit Voters turned out at comparable rates with only small disparities by race or ethnicity.
CLOSING VOTER TURNOUT GAPS
Lower income Nonprofit Voters outperformed their counterparts by as much as 15 points.
BY INCOME
Young Nonprofit Voters under age 30 outperformed their counterparts by 15 points.
BY AGE
• Catalist assigns every individual a propensity to vote score on a scale of 0-100.
• Campaigns focus mobilization on individuals with a propensity between 30 and 70.
• Individuals with lower propensity scores are frequently neglected.
PROPENSITY TO VOTE
Turnout
Very low propensity Nonprofit Voters turned out a rate 3 times that of their counterparts.
BY PROPENSITY
• Higher Turnout: Voters contacted by a nonprofit where they receive services turned out at higher rates than the general population.
• Less Disparities: Turnout by Nonprofit Voters was more consistent across all demographics of race, income, and age.
• Greater reach: Nonprofits reach and turnout voters campaigns don’t contact.
CONCLUSIONS
Turnout
NONPROFITS ANDVOTER ENGAGEMENT:
What Worked
• How Many: 16 case studies and 27 interviews
• Purpose: To learn more about what makes nonprofit voter engagement successful
• Motivation: To advance their mission and build power and efficacy for the people they serve
CASE STUDIES AND INTERVIEWS
WhatWorked
The biggest challenge was recruiting staff and volunteers motivated to do the work• Plan ahead to identify staff and volunteers• Provide training both on the how-to and importance
of the work
LEADERSHIP AND STAFFING
WhatWorked
Integrate voter engagement into an ongoing program or service• Target a program where people have time to engage
- like when signing up for a benefit or in a class• Table in high traffic area at your center or at a
nonprofit event
IDENTIFY TACTICS
WhatWorked
Nonprofits benefited from training and assistance from partners• Get help from a partner who can answer questions
about the election or provide volunteers or materials• Connect to your local election board
SUPPORT FROM PARTNERS
WhatWorked
Good materials answered questions and started conversations• A handout on rights of ex-offenders to vote…or a
ballot measure• Pledge cards, posters or small giveaways
OUTREACH MATERIALS
WhatWorked
The most successful organizations planned ahead• For the November midterm
– Have a plan of your activities and staffing 5-6 months ahead
– Plan for your most intensive voter engagement activities two months before election
PLAN AHEAD
WhatWorked
• National Voter Registration Day is the 4th Tuesday in September. That’s September 23rd, 2014.
• Start planning now!
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
WhatWorked
• Personal contact by “trusted messengers” remains the most powerful approach to mobilization
• Nonprofits uniquely reach and turnout populations least expected to vote
• Mobilizing under-represented groups improves the quality of our democracy
IMPLICATIONS
Implications
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at www.nonprofitvote.org
RESOURCES
Resources
Resources
DOWNLOAD REPORTwww.nonprofitvote.org/evaluating-the-impact-of-nonprofits-on-voter-turnout
• Full Report• Executive Summary• Case Studies• Waking the Sleeping Giant – SPaCE report
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111
George [email protected]
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg
Isela [email protected]