voter engagement for hawaii nonprofits presented by:
TRANSCRIPT
VOTER ENGAGEMENT FOR HAWAII NONPROFITS
Presented by:
ABOUT HANO
Uniting and Strengthening the Nonprofit Sector in
Hawaii• Leadership and convening • Advocacy and public policy• Research and information• Communications • Professional development• Products and services
About
ABOUT NONPROFIT VOTE
About
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 at www.nonprofitvote.org
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
WhoNikki Love KingmanDirector of Public Policy
HANO
Lindsey HodelNational Field Director
Nonprofit VOTE
AGENDA
Agenda
Hawai’i Elections 2014
Why Nonprofits and Voting
Staying Nonpartisan
Menu of Options: Voter Engagement Activities
Getting Started
Turnout of eligible voters in Hawaii:
2012 General Election – 44.5% (58.7% nationwide)
2010 General Election – 40.2% (41.7% nationwide)
2008 General Election – 49.0% (62.2% nationwide)
Source: United States Elections Project, electproject.org
THE CHALLENGE OF VOTER PARTICIPATION
Turnout
Voter registration deadline: Monday Oct. 6
Early walk-in absentee voting:Oct. 21 to Nov. 1
General Election day:Tuesday Nov. 4
2014 GENERAL ELECTION IN HAWAII
Deadlines!
State of Hawaii Office of Elections
Web: hawaii.gov/elections
Phone: (808) 453-VOTE (8683)
Neighbor Isle Toll-free: (800) 442-VOTE (8683)
2014 GENERAL ELECTION IN HAWAII
StateElections
• Our size and reach as a sector.• Our social missions and the trust we earn from our
communities enable us to reach people that no one else can.
• Our dedicated staff help those in need every day and understand the importance of active citizenship.
• When we do this work, we are effective!• We have to.
WHY NONPROFITS?
WhyNonprofits
NONPROFITS INCREASE VOTING
• Nonprofit VOTE’s Track the Vote report:• Nonprofit voters were 74% likely to vote, 6
percentage points higher than the general public.
• Turnout was 18 points higher for Latino voters• Turnout was 15 points higher for
voters with household incomes under $25,000.
WhyNonprofits
• Participation gaps still persist in elections and in other forms of civic activity.
• Civic engagement leads to new leadership within the community and better/more diverse representation.
• People and communities that participate civically report better health outcomes.
• Civic engagement programs enhance advocacy and lobbying efforts.
WHY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT?
WhyVoting
STAYING NONPARTISAN
Nonprofits may conduct nonpartisan voter engagement activities to educate the public and help them participate in elections, including -
StayingNonpartisa
n
May –• Register Voters• Educate Voters• Get Out The Vote (GOTV)• Hold Candidate Forums
STAYING NONPARTISAN
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may not support or oppose a candidate for public office.
BeingNonpartisan
May not –• Endorse candidates• Donate money or resources to
candidates• Rate candidates on single issues
• Voter Registration• Voter Education• Get-Out-The-Vote and
Mobilization• Ballot Initiative and
Issue Advocacy
VOTER ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Activities
Common Voter Registration Activities• At a special event like a high school graduation or
citizenship ceremony• At your annual meeting or major event• When hiring new staff• As a volunteer activity registering voters
at busy sites• At your nonprofit during the 1-3 months
before the registration deadline
VOTER REGISTRATION
VoterRegistratio
n
www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
• What’s on the ballot?• What are hot races?• When is election day?• Where is my polling place? • How do I vote by mail?• Are there changes to voting?
VOTER EDUCATION
VoterEducation
On the Who, Where, and How of Voting
• Make it personal• Make it positive• Turn up the volume
GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
GOTV
Most important contact is often right before election day
• 501(c)(3) organizations can endorse or oppose ballot measures
• Endorsement/opposition counts as direct lobbying (not grassroots lobbying and not electioneering)
• Ballot initiatives give voters a reason to turn out
• www.nonprofitvote.org/all-resources/ webinars
BALLOT MEASURES AND ADVOCACY
GOTV
Nonprofits can and should take positions on ballot measures
• Capacity• Skills and Training• Opportunities for
Engagement• Making a Timeline
4 STEPS FOR GETTING STARTED
GetStarted
• Leadership: Get buy-in from your ED and your Board.
• Staff: Help staff see the importance of civic engagement.
• Staff Lead: Establishing a point person is important.
• Partners: Who can provide you support and resources?
STEP 1: CAPACITY
GetStarted
• Staying Nonpartisan: Knowing the rules for 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
• Local Election/Lobbying Rules: Deadlines, how to vote, lobbying rules, etc.
• What’s at Stake: What’s on the ballot? What bills are being considered?
STEP 2: SKILLS AND TRAINING
GetStarted
STEP 3: OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
GetStarte
d
What are your points of contact with your audiences? When, where and how do you interact with them?
• Points of service• Classes and trainings• Meetings• Community events• In your lobby
STEP 4: CREATE A TIMELINE
GetStarte
d
Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations
Phone: (808) 529-0454
Web: www.hano-hawaii.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
CONNECT WITH HANO
Connect!
Thursday, October 2nd, 2014
Find out more at: www.hano-hawaii.org/
HANO NONPROFIT CONFERENCE
QUESTIONS?
Questions?
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111
Lindsey Hodel, National Field Director