NONPROFITS GET OUT THE VOTE
The Final Six Weeks
ABOUT US
A national hub of voter engagement
resources and trainings to help nonprofits
integrate nonpartisan voter participation into
their ongoing activities and services.
Find more about our mission and partners on our website:
www.nonprofitvote.org
About
Us
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Julian Johannesen
Ashley Herad
Civic Engagement and Director of Research
and Training
Policy Director
Nonprofit VOTE
Louisiana Association of
Nonprofits Organizations
Who
AGENDA

Talking about voting

Voter Registration

Voter Education

Get Out the Vote

Election Day
Agenda
TALKING ABOUT VOTING
TALK ABOUT IT!
• Your relationship with your
clients and constituents 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
TIPS ON TALKING ABOUT VOTING
• Assume that people plan to vote and help them
to do that
• Ask questions based on that assumption:
– Is your registration up to date?
– Do you know where you’re polling place?
– Are you voting in the morning or after work?
• “Scheduling an appointment” to vote
– Research has shown that being asked to think
about or visualize your plan to vote increase the
chance that you will vote
Talking
About Voting
MESSAGES THAT WORK
• 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.
Talking
About Voting
MESSAGES THAT WORK (CONT.)
• 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..
Talking
About Voting
VOTER
REGISTRATION
THERE’S STILL TIME!
• Promote the voter registration
deadline
• Conduct a voter registration
drive at your location or in
your community
• Take part in National Voter
Registration Day on
Tuesday, September 25th
Voter
Registration
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org
Voter
Registration
VOTING IN YOUR STATE
• graphic
Voter
Registration
VOTER EDUCATION

How to vote

What’s on the ballot
HOW TO VOTE: COMMON QUESTIONS
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
Voter
Education
WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT
• Provide sample ballots (if
available)
• Give out a short, one page
guide to a ballot question or all
of the ballot questions
• Distribute a short, one page
guide to the issues most
important to your organization
Voter
Education
GET OUT THE VOTE

Principles of GOTV

Key activities

Creating visibility

Early voting

Promoting Election
Day Voting
PRINCIPLES OF GOTV
• Make it personal: Personal contact works best!
• Create urgency around your issue or the impact
of the election
• Turn up the volume close to Election Day when
people are most tuned in
GOTV
KEY ACTIVITIES
• Create visibility: Make the
election visible at your agency
and in your communications
• Promote Early Voting:
Encourage people to vote early
by mail or in person
• Promote Election Day voting:
Contact constituents about
voting on Election Day
GOTV
CREATE VISIBILITY
• The election should be
visible to everyone you
interact with
• Make announcements
about the election
• Put up “Vote November
6” posters or signage
• Use your communications
GOTV
EARLY VOTING MATTERS!
• In 2008, nearly 1 in 3
voters voted early!
• Let your community
know about the
opportunity to vote
early – how and
where to do it.
GOTV
VOTE EARLY BY MAIL/ABSENTEE
• Promote the absentee
voting dates
• Help community members
get an absentee ballot
application
GOTV
VOTE EARLY IN-PERSON
• Voting by absentee
ballot in person
• Voting at a designated
early voting location
GOTV
THE FINAL TWO WEEKS
• Continue to turn up the
volume!
• Orient staff to answer basic
election questions
• When providing services,
ask people if they’re
planning to vote and if they
need help
• Hold a Get Out The Vote
event (like a Trick or Vote
event)
GOTV
ON ELECTION DAY
WHAT TO DO ON ELECTION DAY
• Provide election assistance
• Give staff time off to take part
in nonpartisan get out the
vote activities or to work at
the polls
• Celebrate democracy!
Election
Day
PROVIDE ELECTION ASSISTANCE
• Talk to clients and constituents about
voting and office assistance
• Help constituents find their polling place
• Promote the toll free voter assistance
hotlines and the free smart phone app:
– 1-866-OUR-VOTE
– 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota
Election
Day
TIME OFF ON 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
translator
CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY!
• Make the election visible
and create a festive
atmosphere
• Ask people about voting
and if possible provide
assistance
Election
Day
www.nonprofitvote.org
MORE RESOURCES
Resources
SUPPORT VOTING!
www.nonprofitvote.org/support-voting.html
Resources
RESOURCES
• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more
available at www.nonprofitvote.org
Resources
info@nonprofitvote.org
617.357.VOTE (8683)
www.nonprofitvote.org
Nonprofit VOTE
89 South Street
Suite 203
Boston, MA 02111
Ashley Herad
ashley@lano.org
Julian Johannesen
julian@nonprofitvote.org