Voter Participation Training

Nonprofit VOTE - State and local voter engagement initiatives Expanding the role of America’s nonprofits in voting and

elections

Closing participation gaps for underrepresented and lower turnout communities

Our California Partners

Gaps in Voter Turnout in CA 2006 & 2008

56%

38% 37% 34%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

White Black Latino Asian

2006 Election

68.50%65%

57%52%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

White Black Latino Asian

Percent turnout of citizen eligible voters

2008 Election

Gap in Voter Turnout by Age

51%

60%

69%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Age 18 to 24 Age 25 to 44 Age 45+

Gap in Voter Turnout in California by Age in the 2008 Presidential Election

National Statistics Gap in Turnout by Income & Mobility

Rise in Voter Turnout in CA

57%

60%

62%

50%

52%

54%

56%

58%

60%

62%

64%

2000 2004 2008

California Turnout Rising% turnout of eligible voters - presidential elections

Voter Turnout in Midterm ElectionsTotal Ballots Cast as a Percentage of VEP

37.3%41.2%

44.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

2002 2006 2010

Voter Turnout in LA County – Recent Elections

City of LA Municipal Election 2011: 12.97%

Statewide Elections – LA County Turnout Midterm Election Nov 2010: 53.77 % CA Special Election May 2009: 19.99 % Presidential Election Nov 2008: 81.92 %

Barriers to Voting

Why do you think these gaps exist in voter turnout?

Why do you think voter turnout can be so low in some elections, but much higher in other elections?

It Matters Who Votes

Y es on Minimum Wage (Ohio) - 2006

80%

39%

20%30%

40%50%60%70%

80%90%

Under$15,000

$15-30,000 $30-50,000 $50-75,000 $75-100,000 $100-$150,000

$150-200,000

Above$200,000

Why Me?

Why Vote?Who Votes Matters Elected officials know who votes. Elected officials and

candidates will pay less attention to, make fewer appearances in, and appeal less to neighborhoods that don't turnout. They pay more attention to communities who do vote.

The people who vote have a powerful impact on public policy and government and influence laws, appointments, and budgeting. You and your constituents’ policy and political concerns won’t be heard if you/they don't vote.

How have your organizations, or services that you and your family receive, been impacted by the CA budget?

Size of Nonprofit Sector

1.6 million active organizations in US (18,622 active nonprofits in LA County)

Employing 14 million people (246,000 people employed in LA County – 6% of workforce)

Recruiting 65 million volunteers annually

And serving millions every day

And Reach….

Unique and trusting relationships with the communities you serve.

Have a vested interest in ensuring that the priorities of your communities are represented

Ability to integrate voter outreach into ongoing activities

One Rule to Remember

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations must remain NONPARTISAN.

Remaining Nonpartisan

Do use nonpartisan voter participation to build more powerful and engaged communities

DON’TS – as 501c3 organization… Oppose or Endorse a candidate running for office

Give resources ($$ etc) to candidates

Rank candidates on an issue to bias towards one candidate

Tell people how to vote or which party to affiliate with

Helpful Resources: Nonprofits, Voting and Elections Toolkit Alliance for Justice:1-866-NPLOBBY

Ballot Measures

Ballot measures are laws not candidates 501c3 nonprofits can support or oppose

ballot measures Advocacy around ballot measures is

considered a lobbying activity, subject to normal lobbying limits

What is Nonpartisan Voter Engagement?

Behind the Plan Get Buy In:

• Executive Direcot or Board of Directors

• Rest of staff

• Use voter toolkit Identify a point person:

• Program staff, public policy, direct service, communications staff, receptionist, outreach worker

Keep it Simple Plan Around Election Deadlines:

• voter reg & education

• voter education & GOTV

Assess Your Voter Engagement Resources and Challenges

YOUR NONPROFIT

Who’s Involved: Front office staff, management, outreach workers, policy staff, administrative staff, social workers, activities directors, volunteers & interns

TARGETWho is your Audience: Staff, Board, Volunteers and Clients

COMMUNICATEPoints of Contacts: How you’ll reach your audience? In person, on website, newsletter, twitter, etc

INTEGRATEWhere: points of service, intake, in waiting rooms, classes & trainings, meetings, community events

Step 1: Voter Registration

Like joining a gym…

…there’s a lot more to do to get in shape.

Step 1: Voter Registration

Registration Deadline is 15 days before an election

Focus on Month before the Deadline

Updating Registration is as Important as New

Start with your Staff

Vote by mail

Helpful Resources: A Nonprofit’s Guide to Voter Registration

Voter Registration

You can Register to Vote if you are: A U.S. citizen A resident of California At least 18 years old by the next election Not serving time for a felony or still on parole for a felony Not declared to be mentally incompetent by a court

You will need to re-register if: You have moved. You have changed your name. You want to change the political party you chose on your

last registration form.

Step 1: Voter RegistrationDecide your Approach:

Level 1: Publicize and Promote

Voter reg deadlines and how-to’s

Level 2: Do Registration on Site

Incorporate into your ongoing activities and constituent interactions

Level 3: Mobilize & Partner

Identify and collaborate with partners in your community

Step 1: Voter RegistrationWHERE?(points of contact)

In Office

(Be a permanent distribution site

contact LA County 562-462-2881)

Online

• Your organization’s website (Ya Es Hora online voter registration tool)

• LAVote.net

At Meetings

In the Community

Step 2:Voter Education

Conducting Nonpartisan voter education efforts with your communities.

Webinar: Voter Education For Nonprofits

Voter Education -On the Voting ProcessDisplay or distribute sample ballots, voter guides and

voter assistance hotline information

When: Election date, vote by mail deadlines, polling hours (7am -8pm)

Where: Finding your polling place

How: Voting equipment, how to vote absentee, where to get help voting

Special Circumstances: Ex-offender

Helpful Resources: www.lavote.net

Helpful Hotlines: 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota & 1-888-839-8682

Voter Education -On the Issues

DO educate your community on the issues that matter to your organization.

DO educate all the candidates on issues that matter to the people you serve.

Do advocate and educate on Ballot Measures – you can take a position

DON’T tell voters which candidate is best on your issue or who to vote for.

Helpful Resources: Easy Voter Guide, www.smartvoter.org, CGS Video Voter

Voter Education -On Candidates

DO distribute sample ballots showing all local races

DO co-sponsor a candidate forum or do a candidate questionnaire

DO give people nonpartisan voter guides, lists of websites of all candidates, etc.

DON’T rate candidate’s positions on issues at election time

Helpful Resource: A Nonprofit’s Guide to Hosting a Candidate Forum

Pollworker & Polling Place

Encourage staff or clients to sign up as pollworkers.• Earn $$ - up to $105

• Need to be registered voter

• Student pollworker program

• Bilingual pollworkers are often needed Sign your nonprofit up as a polling place

• Familiar location for patients

• $25 for your nonprofit

Visit www.lavote.net for more information

Step 3: Get-Out-The-Vote

Prepare Staff: staff meeting & communications, payroll stuffers

Make it Personal: conversations about voting Give Voters the Assistance they Need: help reduce

common barriers to voting Turn Up the (nonpartisan) Volume: final days before

an election Identify a Message: make a connection & avoid negative

messages Sign up to be a pollworker or have your nonprofit be a polling

place

Webinar: GOTV & Election Day for Nonprofits

Step 3: Get-Out-The-Vote

Activity Ideas for the Last 2 Weeks Before the Election

Create Visibility: put up posters, set up voter info table,

Provide Help: prepare staff, ask about voting, rides to the polls, call constituents

Raise the Stakes: use all forms of communication, integrate more, provide translated material

On Election Day: remind people, allow staff to do GOTV activities or volunteer as poll workers

Helpful Resource: A dozen easy ways to get out the vote

Why We Vote Have a Reason to Vote

• Candidate, competition, issues

Personal Contact• From family, friend, nonprofit

Low Barriers• It’s easy and accessible

A habit learned from

family and community

Questions?

Marcy Koukhab Sarah Pillsbury

Project Director Project Partner

Marcy@caparticipates.org Sarah@caparticipates.org

California Participation Project

www.caparticipates.org

(213) 346-3291