This document is intended to be a hard copy workbook to facilitate breakout Group Discussions and is not meant to be a powerpoint presentation. It is in powerpoint format so that you can customize and add content specific to your local expertise.

Institute of International Education. (2013).Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. Retrieved from http://www.iie.org/opendoors

Institute of International Education. (2013).Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. Retrieved from http://www.iie.org/opendoors

GOTV 2014 Student Outreach
Top 25 Destinations of US Study Abroad Students and Trend / Change over prior year
Where does your country fall? How is it trending? Who are the largest programs that you have been in contact with?

GOTV 2014 Student Outreach
Top 25 Institutions Awarding Credit for Study Abroad (in total numbers): Any presence in your country? Alumni?

GOTV 2014 Student Outreach
Discussion Planner
General Discussion
Based on the Information provided what opportunities do you have to reach out to Students in your Country? Use the discussion planner below and calendar planning pages (as well as Best Practices resources at the back of this document) to plan out your outreach to Students and your action plan to contact them sooner than later! Do you have connections to any of the top sending institutions?
List Abroad Programs and Institutions/Contact information/On Campus Dates (if known):
Contact Strategies
1. Student Packets /CoOp Materials
7.
8.
2. Voter Registration Table/Event (During
On Campus Orientation?)
3. Events (Summer/Fall): World Cup, July
4 th , Labor Day, Orientation Week
4. Activities (Volunteer Phonebanking in
Aug/September)
5. Social Media Outreach
6.

GOTV 2014
Monthly Planner
Key Global GOTV Activities: Targeted Global Emails to Frontline States to focus Audience Build; State Strategies finalize with Global Data Team; Build
Frontline Race Strategies); recruit teams and assess Spring Hits/Misses to build momentum into Fall. Communicate Global Fall Election Calendar by May 4 th ;
Local CC’s should prepare their fall calendars by May 19 th . GOTV Email blasts by state (45 Days Out Primary Emails) generated to all member voters in that state. Primary results with General Election Candidates announced by state targeted emails. Plan World Cup/Summer Strategies!
Week to Week Action Plan
Week 1
7.
8.
5.
6.
2.
3.
4.
CC GOTV MONTHLY PRIORITIES
1.
Week 2:
Week 3
Week 4:
Week 5
Monthly Overall Goals:
Ideas: Plan/Identify Summer Strategies – World Cup, July 4 th , In Country Student Abroad outreach organization/plans before people leave for summer holidays!

GOTV 2014
Monthly Planner
Key Global GOTV Activities: Build Toolkit and integrate operations with all Domestic Frontline campaigns. Includes Phonebanking tools and capabilities worldwide during Summer timeframe; encourage abroad voter ‘visits’ over summer holidays. Likely finalize mailing dates for Frontline Data Non-Member lists and outreach. GOTV Email blasts by state (45 Days Out Primary Emails) generated to all member voters in that state. Primary results with General Election
Candidates announced by state targeted emails.
Week to Week Action Plan
7.
8.
5.
6.
2.
3.
4.
CC GOTV MONTHLY PRIORITIES
1.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3: USA First Round World Cup Match June 16th
Week 4: USA First Round World Cup Match June 22
Week 5: USA First Round World Cup Match June 26 th – This could be a huge event if Germany USA are looking to advance to 2 nd round!
Monthly Overall Goals:
Ideas:

GOTV 2014
Monthly Planner
Key Global GOTV Activities: Build Toolkit and integrate operations with all Domestic Frontline campaigns. Includes Phonebanking tools and capabilities worldwide during Summer timeframe; encourage abroad voter ‘visits’ over summer holidays. July 31 st Publication on VFA and Voter Action Centre all state registration and request deadlines. Materials for Student Abroad Outreach created and handed to CC’s for Aug distribution. GOTV Email blasts by state (45 Days
Out Primary Emails) generated to all member voters in that state . Primary results with General Election Candidates announced by state targeted emails.
Week to Week Action Plan
7.
8.
5.
6.
2.
3.
4.
CC GOTV MONTHLY PRIORITIES
1.
Week 1: July 4 th and Voter Registration & Awareness week for Bases/Embassies/Consulates. Co Op an Event!
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Monthly Overall Goals:
Ideas:

GOTV 2014
Monthly Planner
Key Global GOTV Activities: August 1 st Global DA Email (Prior to the August Bank Holiday) to all Members (integrated with social media) announcing VFA key dates/states; messaging to voters by frontline state; Notification of all deadlines for register and request ballots for all states online. Full packet of information to CC Leadership. Information for students distributed to International Study Abroad Programs. Aug 18 th Live Site for GOTV with Voter prepopulated Lists, Revised Voter Contact Phonebank Scripts,
Customizable Calendars, and VR information for registration tables/outreach. Primary results with General Election Candidates announced by state targeted emails.
Week to Week Action Plan
Week 1
7.
8.
5.
6.
2.
3.
4.
CC GOTV MONTHLY PRIORITIES
1.
Week 2
Week 3: GOTV Core information distributed and LIVE on site!
Week 4
Week 5: VOTER CONTACT FOCUS WEEK – DID YOU REQUEST? DID YOU VOTE? FINAL PHONEBANKING PUSH! Social Media focus on 60 day out strategy.
Monthly Overall Goals:
Ideas:

GOTV 2014
Monthly Planner
Key Global GOTV Activities: Strategic and Social Media in Full force; Phonebanking support for CC’s through Oct 12 th . Global Email communication to all
Frontline States. Manage and shift support for voter outreach and phonebanking with resource allocation. Mail Outreach to non-member DA lists/emails by mid September latest (coordinated with Data Team). Primary results with General Election Candidates announced by state targeted emails.
7.
8.
5.
6.
2.
3.
4.
CC GOTV MONTHLY PRIORITIES
1.
Week to Week Action Plan
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Monthly Overall Goals:
Ideas:

GOTV 2014
Monthly Planner
Key Global GOTV Activities: Strategic and Social Media in Full force; Phonebanking support for CC’s through Oct 12 resource allocation.
th . Global Email communication to all Frontline States as per published Fall Calendar. Manage and shift support for voter outreach and phonebanking with
7.
8.
5.
6.
2.
3.
4.
CC GOTV MONTHLY PRIORITIES
1.
Week to Week Action Plan
Week 1:
Week 2: Oct 7 th Flip to the FWAB if you haven’t received your ballot!
Week 3: Shift to Instate Resource Support; Key Races still with deadlines to come are still 100% supported by Global GOTV. VOTER
RECOMMENDED MAILING DEADLINE FOR ALL BALLOTS!
Week 4: In state support
Week 5: In state support
Monthly Overall Goals:
Ideas:

New contacts and exposure to VoteFromAbroad are at the heart of Onsite Registration. Public Registration Events make voters aware of their right to vote. Many citizens are unaware of their right to vote or think it is complicated and difficult. They don’t know that the MOVE Act of 2009 eliminates the need for Notary signatures and complicated paperwork, but does require a ballot request each election cycle.
It is our job to get the word out and have them spread the word about how easy it is to Vote From Abroad!
PUBLIC VOTER REG EVENTS ARE EASY TO ORGANIZE:
Co-op with a local English language bookstore, Embassy,
University, International School, American hangout to register voters. City Centre locations during weekends are also great!
Regular and recurring events, especially in a build up to an election, are useful as they build momentum and provide a regular resource for any follow up and referrals. Post times and places on social media, in-venue and through your DA communication. Invite volunteers to take shifts to manage registration/information. Co-sponsor with Republicans Abroad and have the Embassy send out notice of non-partisan registration using VoteFromAbroad.org
Show volunteers that it is not hard or intimidating to manage voter registration with the VFA information provided through the Co-Op and the DA site!
Got Ideas? Add to the wiki http://wiki.demsabroad.eu/display/BPvoteForum/New+Contributions
Voter Registration Table Checklist:
Find a secure, central and legal location. Make sure local authorities are aware of your plans if you are going to be in a public space and make sure you are not obstructing pedestrian or vehicle traffic
Proudly display VFA signage and/or DA signage. Make it visible and secured – Don’t let it blow away outdoors! – USE THE CO-OP!
Hi-viz vests often are great for catching the eye of a passerby!
Clipboards with pertinent information – Postcards, Bookmarks,
Reference Materials – these should all be at the ready
Reference Materials Include: Registration/Ballot Deadlines, Voter
Eligibility Requirements, Handouts to potential voters (who want to register later); VFA website information and website
Mobile Devices or laptops with spare batteries is essential for on the spot registration; a portable printer with paper is ideal and might be worth your Country Committee’s investment.
Have people ready to walk and talk and sit behind a table.
Pens, Pencils, Paper and ENERGY!
CREDIT: DA HUNGARY, GERMANY, IRELAND

Students arriving at schools Internationally are often unaware of the early deadlines required for overseas voting. It is important that they are contacted early enough so that they can begin the process of requesting a ballot to return it in time for the election.
Many schools do not want to seem partisan, so approaching them with non-partisan VFA is essential. Most schools will allow you to place printed materials (see VFA Coop Postcards and flyers) in their student welcome packets.
For general elections, schools and universities should be contacted in the spring semester, as many go on summer break. Often the materials must be submitted by mid-August for the student welcome packets which they receive on arrival.
Following up with an on site registration table during student welcome/registration week is also helpful. In some cases,
International Students are asked to come a week or so prior to regular registration. For large cities/universities this is a great opportunity to gain exposure, answer questions, and touch a large part of the population who may miss their opportunity to participate if they wait too long to register and request their ballots.
Got Ideas? Add to the wiki http://wiki.demsabroad.eu/display/BPvoteForum/New+Contributions
Outreach to Study Abroad Students
There are over 270,000 of them.
Check this link to see how many are in your country: http://www.iie.org/opendoors
They are half as likely to vote (unless you help) and they are twice as likely to vote Democratic.
1. Appoint a Study Abroad coordinator – for your country and every chapter.
2. Compile a list of Study Abroad programs in your country/chapter. Check on Studyabroad.com; check your membership for leads – program directors, teachers, students; leverage relations with programs in other countries
3. Get the name of the program and the contact person and details as a
start: Number of students; date of arrival and orientation; student organization contacts
4. Start writing down a plan for reaching these students, with active onsite
VR events; info on VR in orientation packets; flyers posted onsite; social media
(e.g. Facebook); and a calendar for yourself to keep track of events
5) Plan in advance for the materials and volunteer resources
6) Follow-up with college administrators to maintain the relationships
Make sure they know about FWAB
Make sure they send in their ballots
If you’re already doing Study Abroad, what’s next? Begin outreach stateside and establish multi-country programs!
Reaching students will be more important than ever!
CREDIT: DA HUNGARY, SERBIA, BRAZIL AND IRELAND

Knowing how to message and communicate with your members is key to keeping them engaged and bringing new potential members into your CC. Make sure you are clearly communicating and empowering your voters to participate in DA!
Create a Clear, Urgent Message: Act Now!
Make your members respond with word or actions
Be consistent and use the same message in multiple outreaches
Establish your Local DA Brand
Establish Awareness, Value, Trust
Reach out to Embassies, Democratic Friendly community leaders.
Network to build credibility and trust for introductions and new opportunities for outreach
Understand your Communication Options
Use multichannel to reach a wide audience
Know what works best in your market
Overlaps of consistent messaging creates brand awareness
Know your Market and Segments
Know size and demographics of segmentation: Students,
Teachers, Corporate, Retired
Prioritize most important segments to get the best results
Analyze top segments to determine your best outreach plan
Got Ideas? Add to the wiki http://wiki.demsabroad.eu/display/BPvoteForum/New+Contributions
Strategy per Segment: STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS
Location: Capital city (Prague) & other larger cities (Brno); Tied to known academic programs
Motivators: New experiences, Peer pressure, Free food
Obstacles: Partisan politics. Paper work. Dealing with the CZ postal system
Who do they trust? Their program directors; Their peers, or slightly older 20+ year olds
Timing for initial communication: Ask directors to mention registration in orientation, then follow up with a registration drive in the week after students arrive, midweek to avoid travel overlaps.
Communication channels (2012): Program communications (emails, FB messaging etc); FB ads targeted to age group
Working Points: Contact study abroad directors from around the country;
Suggest in house program activities. Keep the message free from politics. Emphasize experience. Make the message feel targeted to them. Help the students with the paper work. Offer free food. Eliminate any need for the students to go to the post office.
Strategy per Segment: INTEGRATED AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS
Location: Capital city (Prague), but often in suburbs; Larger cities (Brno, Plzen,
Olomouc, etc., Villages
Motivators: Introducing their bilingual children to other English speakers, Talking US politics, US Citizens Abroad legislation (tax issues, citizenship issues for children + spouses)
Obstacles: Having to hire a babysitter in order to participate in meetings, events
Having to travel distances to get to meetings, other events; Getting spammed by marketing material
Who do they trust? Their peers, The embassy, Certain media sources
Timing for initial communication: Get started in early 2013 establishing relationships with this segment
Communication Channels: Recommendations from friends (via email, phone, social media channels); Articles published in English language media around the Country;
The embassy, if at all possible; Groups they participate in (IWAP, ministries, FB groups, etc; Online advertisement (FB ads, Google Adwords)
Working Points: Establish groups within DA which reflect their interests ,(concert goers, kids programs, political conversations; Establish hub members in larger cities
USE THESE THIS TEMPLATE TO DEFINE YOUR OWN STRATEGIES
WHAT IS THE RIGHT STRATEGY FOR EACH SEGMENT IN YOUR CC?
CREDIT: DA CZECH REPUBLIC

Support from your Embassy/Consulate can be critical to
DA Committees of all sizes. Always remain positive and friendly. A change in staffing can alter relationships overnight, so don’t push. Because of perceived partisan sensitivities we must always approach in a non-partisan manner.
Establish Personal Contact with Senior Embassy staff.
Be aware of rotation cycles. Anticipate change.
Find out who is the designated post VAO
(Voting Assistance Officer).
Source and contact your local Republicans Abroad;
Approach the Embassy with events co-sponsored and in a non-partisan way.
Let members/media know of any Embassy support or promotion. Reference the Embassy in press releases and member announcements where possible.
Always be courteous and appreciative. Send Thank You notes and attend Embassy functions if invited!
Got Ideas? Add to the wiki http://wiki.demsabroad.eu/display/BPvoteForum/New+Contributions
Key Information:
Website – www.state.gov
US Embassies and other Posts: http://www.usembassy.gov
Phone directory of Key Foreign Service Personnel 2013: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/111812.pdf
Travel Advisories and Information: http://travel.state.gov
PLEASE USE THIS SPACE TO ENTER YOUR CC’S
EMBASSY/CONSOLATE CONTACT INFORMATION:
CREDIT: DA HUNGARY, US DEPT OF STATE WWW.STATE.GOV

THE NEW FRONTIER:
And often the best way to engage targeted audiences that are interested in DA issues, membership and/or voting from abroad.
Regular management is essential. Tweeting once a year will not build a following, for example.
Integrate Facebook/Twitter messaging when possible. Whether automated or manual, consistent messaging is very effective to a target audience.
Know Your Audience: is there a social issue trending where DA has a voice?
Tag or Link to get all of your DA followers in sync on the issue of the day!
Cross Posting: Use DA International or other CC Pages/Caucus Pages to feature your local perspective on a DA International Issue
Promote VFA.org: use social media to promote VoteFromAbroad.org on DA pages. It is a non partisan way to share the importance of voter registration.
Motivate your members to share the link as well. Communicate deadlines and the ease of use to friends and followers.
Social Media Strategy: During critical points in election timelines make sure you preplan a calendar of social media activity and coordinate it with emails and other information distribution and site updating. Plan at least two weeks at a time.
Facebook ads: Locally a great way to get exposure to a targeted audience at minimal expense to promote VoteFromAbroad.org and/or new members. See
‘rules’ to determine what you can pay for from CC funds.
Look for regular updates on the wiki for Best Practices from CC’s worldwide.
Got Ideas? Add to the wiki http://wiki.demsabroad.eu/display/BPvoteForum/New+Contributions
Democrats who arrive looking for connections in their new country often look for your local group on the global website.
Please make sure you welcome:
New members appropriately with a link or chart of regular information
(regular meeting dates and locations)
Existing members with ‘new news’ on a regular basis, including current issues/events
(to increase and encourage regular visits)
Feature:
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Photos/Info on Recent Events
News/Updates on Topics of Interest
Links to appropriate websites to assist new members (i.e. US Embassy, Travel.Gov
updates to nearby areas)
Special Interest and/or Caucus Groups
Regularly update and refresh your page with new photos and visuals so that it does not become outdated.
MAXIMIZE SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING!
Use your link to your DA homepage when posting on facebook/twitter and link to your facebook page!
CREDIT: DA HANDBOOK, DA BRAZIL, FRANCE, INDONESIA