Nonpartisan Nonprofit Voter Mobilization
Voter Registration For
Nonprofit Organizations
A toolbox to help nonprofit organizations conduct
voter registration activities
An update of the original toolbox prepared by Grassroots Solutions and Minnesota Council of
Nonprofits
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Remaining nonpartisan ............................................................................................................................ 3
Funding issues .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Key voter registration dates.......................................................................................................................... 5
Nonprofit voter registration planning worksheet ........................................................................................ 6
Minnesota voter registration 101 ................................................................................................................. 7
Pre-registration vs. Election Day registration ........................................................................................... 7
Basic requirements to vote in Minnesota ................................................................................................. 7
Where to get voter registration applications ........................................................................................... 7
Online voter registration ........................................................................................................................... 7
Applications must be returned within 10 days of being signed ............................................................... 7
Election Day registration: What to bring ...................................................................................................... 9
Proof of residence ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Vouching ................................................................................................................................................. 11
Vouching for a neighbor.......................................................................................................................... 11
Residential facility employee vouching................................................................................................... 11
Hard-to-register groups .............................................................................................................................. 13
Registering College students ................................................................................................................... 13
Registering persons experiencing homelessness.................................................................................... 13
Registering people who fear for their safety .......................................................................................... 15
Registering people with prior felony-level conviction ............................................................................ 16
Frequently asked voter registration questions ........................................................................................... 17
Sample Minnesota Voter registration application...................................................................................... 18
Checklist for application completion and accuracy .................................................................................... 19
Tips for setting up your operation in an office setting ............................................................................... 20
Outline for voter registration tabling in the community ............................................................................ 22
Guide to running a volunteer canvass ........................................................................................................ 23
Sample Script for voter registration door knocking.................................................................................... 24
Instruction page for volunteer door knockers ............................................................................................ 25
Helpful hints for door knockers .................................................................................................................. 26
Available resources ..................................................................................................................................... 27
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Introduction
Voter registration is a first step toward increased voter and civic engagement in your
community. Every registered voter has the potential to impact the outcome of an
election. But equally important, more registered voters means more power for your
community and more clout for your nonprofit.
Who votes matters
Consider this: in the past four Congressional elections, a shift of ten thousand votes
would have changed the outcome of more than two hundred Congressional, Senate and
Gubernatorial races. At the state and local levels, elections are regularly won and lost by
less than one thousand votes and sometimes even less than one hundred votes.
Benefits of registering voters in your community extend far beyond any single election
Candidates and elected officials know who votes
That’s right. They know which communities turn out and in what numbers. They even
know how many times you’ve voted. More registered voters in your community means
more attention from candidates. This will give your constituents more opportunities to
hear directly from the candidates on the issues that affect their lives. Once elected,
these public officials will be more accountable to your community.
Clout for your nonprofit
Whether your organization seeks to increase government funding, change a law or
ordinance, or simply heighten awareness about your issue or community, registering
voters will help to advance your goals. When your nonprofit starts registering voters,
candidates will take notice! Elected officials will recognize your organization as one with
an engaged community of voters and will be more likely to return your phone calls and
listen to your needs as an organization.
Power for your community
Voting is one important way of engaging in the life of your community. A registered
voter is more likely to participate in local affairs, connect with neighbors and volunteer
in the community. Nonprofits go to great lengths to improve the lives of the people they
serve. Registering your clients and constituents to vote is a critical means for them to
become advocates for themselves, their families and their communities. When you talk
to your constituents about registering to vote, you are telling them that their voice
matters in determining what is best for their community.
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As important as voter registration is, it’s only the first step
Once your nonprofit ensures that your community is registered, there are many
opportunities to educate them about the voting process and make sure they get to the
polls on Election Day. Visit www.nonprofitvote.org and
http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org for free downloadable toolkits on nonprofit voter
education and get-out-the-vote.
Every nonprofit is different
Your voter registration activities should compliment your relationships with clients and
constituents, and should be integrated into the ongoing work and mission of your
organization. When planning voter engagement activities, consider the kind of contact
you have with your constituents, members and volunteers. How can you maximize these
interactions as an opportunity for voter registration?
Remaining nonpartisan
Like all election activities, 501(c)(3) nonprofits must carry out voter registration on a
nonpartisan basis. Additionally, being nonpartisan will benefit your voter engagement
work. Nonpartisanship reinforces your organizational status as a trusted community
institution that is respectful of the personal views of your clients and constituents.
Finally, many new and infrequent voters are wary of partisan politics. Your
nonpartisanship allows you to have conversations with your community that bring
politics back to the real issues affecting their lives. Whatever your personal views, being
nonpartisan when representing your nonprofit is relatively straightforward and easy.
But, be prepared for people to attempt to engage you in a partisan discussion. When
training staff and volunteers to register voters, it can be helpful to role-play some of the
following scenarios:
Registrant: Who should I vote for?
Nonprofit Employee or Volunteer: Great question! However, we are a nonpartisan
organization, not supporting any specific candidate or party. We just want to make sure
that you have everything you need to access your right to vote and to select the
candidate that is best for you. Here is some literature to help you find out more about
the candidates and issues at stake in this election.
Registrant: Which candidate is best on the issues that matter to this organization?
Nonprofit Employee or Volunteer: We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and are nonpartisan.
Here are websites and phone numbers to contact to find out where the candidates
stand on some of the big issues.
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Funding issues
Does the federal government allow voter registration by federally funded agencies?
Yes, the National Voter Registration Act mandates many state and federal agencies to
offer voter registration to their clients. There are only three exceptions — Head Start,
AmeriCorps and Legal Services Corporation funds. These three agencies have federal
regulations barring agency sponsored voter registration by employees.
What if a funder stipulates that funds may not be used for voter registration?
This is rare. More commonly, a grant agreement re-states the IRS guideline the 501(c)(3)
that funds cannot be used to conduct partisan political activities. However, if a grant
from a private foundation has a clause prohibiting even nonpartisan voter registration;
it is fully permissible to use other monies — from donations, community foundations,
state funds, etc. — for your registration activities. In practice, the cost of most nonprofit
registration activities is low.
The previous pages were reproduced with permission from the Nonprofits Vote’s “Nonprofits Guide to
Voter Registration” which can be found at: http://www.nonprofitvote.org/guides-and-toolkits.html.
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Key voter registration dates for 2014
Primary election registration dates:
Absentee ballots become available for primary election: Friday, June 27
Last day to pre-register for primary election: Tuesday, July 22
State primary election: Tuesday, August 12
General election registration dates:
Absentee ballots for general election become available: Friday, September 19
Last day to pre-register for general election: Tuesday, October 14
General Election Day: Tuesday, November 4
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Nonprofit voter registration planning worksheet
The great thing about voter registration work is that it is very simple. With just a few
decisions and some guidelines you can be effective quickly. Use this planning box to
form your basic plan.
Registration universe
 Staff
 Board
 Volunteers
 Participants
Other:____________________________________
Registration locations (specify specific locations and events, if applicable)
 In office:_______________________________________
 At events:______________________________________
 At meetings:____________________________________
 Door-to-door:___________________________________
Registration dates (specify specific dates or weeks, if applicable)
 April
 May
 June
 June
 July
 August
 September
 October
Key staff assignments
Staff point person and troubleshooter: ________________________________________
Staff member(s) responsible for returning cards within 10 days: ____________________
________________________________________________________________________
To-do checklist
 Get voter registration applications from the Secretary of State or local elections office
 Learn basics of voter registration rules
 Anticipate specific questions you might encounter unique to population you are
registering
 Create a concrete plan for returning applications within 10 days
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Minnesota voter registration 101
Pre-registration vs. Election Day registration
Minnesota is an Election Day registration (EDR) state, which means pre-registration is
not required. However, EDR should be considered more of a last resort than a method
of choice, because pre-registering to vote is an easier process to navigate and leaves the
voter time to sort out any potential issues he or she may encounter about eligibility. A
voter pre-registers by filling out a voter registration application.
Basic requirements to register to vote in Minnesota





will be at least 18-years-old on Election Day
are a citizen of the United States
will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding Election Day
have any felony conviction record discharged, expired, or completed
are not under court-ordered guardianship where a court has revoked your voting
rights
 have not been ruled legally incompetent by a court of law
Where to get voter registration applications
Voter registration applications are available at the Secretary of State’s office, at your
county elections or city elections office, or in printable form online. Translations are
available in Hmong, Spanish, Somali, Russian, and Vietnamese.
Online voter registration
Voter registration is also now available online through the Secretary of State’s office. To
register online, voters must provide an email address, a Minnesota Driver’s License or
Identification Card or the last four digits of their social security number. All of the basic
requirements are the same and the registration must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 for the voter to be pre-registered. Paper registrations are
still due by 5:00 p.m. on October 14th. For the time being, online voter registration is
only available in English.
Applications must be returned within 10 days of being signed
Voter registration cards must be returned within 10 days of being signed to be valid. It is
best practice to return the forms directly the county election office; any mailed voter
registration cards, even if they are all in one box, will be flagged for proof of photo
identification, and voters may be asked to provide a photo ID on Election Day. As such,
it is much easier and more reliable to hand-deliver the cards. Also, if you registered
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voters who live in different counties, deliver the cards directly to the Secretary of State’s
office.
If the person says they will mail the card explain that if they do mail it, they may be
asked to show a picture ID at their polling place on Election Day. Assure them that you
are turning in many people’s cards and can make sure that theirs gets to the right place
in time. As much as possible, try to persuade voters to let you turn in their cards. No
matter what they decide, always remind the voter to bring his or her ID to the polls to
prevent any possible problems.
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Election Day Registration: What to bring
Minnesota has Election Day registration. It is easier and strongly encouraged to preregister. Even if you pre-register, you may be asked for identification. Do not leave home
without your ID!
Proof of residence
If you choose to register on Election Day, you will need to provide proof of residence. There are
seven options to prove residence.
1. ID with Current Name and Address
Accepted IDs:
 Valid Minnesota driver’s license, Minnesota learner’s permit, Minnesota ID card – or a
receipt for any of these (yellow papers).
 A tribal ID card containing your name, current address, signature and photo (tribe must be
recognized by the BIA)
2. Photo ID Plus a Document with Current Name and Address
The ID can be expired, and the document can also be shown electronically on a device
(smartphone, tablet, etc.). One from each box below can be presented. The bolded items are
new forms of permissible identification allowable for the 2014 elections.
Accepted Documents (electronic or
paper)
Accepted Photo ID
• Driver's license, state ID card or
learner's permit issued by any state
• US passport
• US Military ID card
• Tribal ID card with the name, signature
and photo of the voter
• Minnesota university, college, or
technical college ID card
• Minnesota high school ID card
• Residential lease or rental agreement
(must be valid through Election Day)
• Current student fee statement
• Bill, account or start of service
statement due or dated within 30 days
of election for:
• Phone (landline, cell, VOIP, etc.)
• TV (cable, satelite, etc.)
• Internet services
• Solid waste or sewer services
• Electric, gas or water
• Banking or credit card
• Rent or mortgage payments
3. College Student ID – If a Student Housing List was Provided
A student ID card that includes photo if living in university-sponsored housing (valid if
college/university provided student housing list to election officials).
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4. Notice of Late Registration
A "Notice of Late Registration" you received from your county auditor or city clerk. This notice
can be used to register on Election Day.
5. Valid Registration in the Same Precinct
If you moved to a new residence within your same precinct or changed your name; a current,
valid voter registration in the precinct.
6. Registered Voter Who Can Confirm Your Name and Address
A registered voter in your precinct who will confirm your address with a signed oath at your
polling place, known as a voucher.
7. Staff Person of a Residential Facility
An employee of a residential facility where you reside (nursing home, group home, battered
women's shelter, homeless shelter, etc.) who will confirm your address with a signed oath at
your polling place, known as a voucher
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Election Day: Vouching
Vouching is one of the ways that a voter can prove their residence in a precinct, for the
purposes of registering to vote on Election Day. Vouching entails having the voucher
sign a legal oath that they personally know that the resident resides in the precinct.
Vouching for a neighbor
If you or someone you know was unable to pre-register and does not have the proper
proof of residence, an individual that resides in the same precinct and is registered to
vote is able to vouch for them. The voucher must go to the polls with the individual and
assert this in writing under oath. This must be based on their own personal knowledge
of their eligibility to vote and their residence. Vouching for a voter based upon anything
less than personal knowledge is perjury, which is a felony. An individual cannot vouch
for more than eight individuals. A person can vouch for someone else even if they
registered on Election Day; however, not if they were vouched for by someone.
For more information please visit the Secretary of State’s website at:
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=1767 or call 1-800-600-VOTE.
Residential facility vouching
What is a “residential facility”?
Residential facilities are defined as:
 Transitional Housing
 Supervised Living Facilities
 Nursing Homes
 Housing with Services, including assisted living facilities
 Veterans Homes
 Residential alcohol and chemical treatment programs
 Residential facilities for persons with developmental disabilities
 Group Residential Housing
 Battered Women’s Shelters
 Homeless Shelters
Residential facilities must submit a list of employees
Minnesota law requires that residential facilities provide a certified list of names of
current employees and the address of the facility. This can be done by either filling out a
certifying form (http://www.sos.state.mn.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4299) or
writing a list of employees on letterhead with the facility’s name and address and the
date, name, title and signature of person certifying employees and sending it to the
appropriate county auditor at least 20 days before each election. If there is more than
one facility in different precincts and/or if employees only work at one of the facilities,
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each facility must have its own certifying letter. Employees can be listed on more than
one of the certified employee list if they work at more than one facility.
Employees who can demonstrate that they are employed at a residential facility are
allowed to vouch for residents even if their names do not appear on the list. Employees
can provide documentation of their employment to election judges in a variety of ways,
including providing an employee ID badge or a certification of their employment signed
by the facility’s manager on the facility’s letterhead.
Employees do not have to live in the precinct in which they are vouching, but they must
be Minnesota residents and eligible Minnesota voters, although do not need to be
registered themselves. There is no limit to the number of people for whom employees
may vouch.
Things to do in order to vouch for residents
 Discuss same day registration and get buy-in from staff to vouch for residents
 Submit letter (or form) of employees to local county auditor 20 days before the
election
 As Election Day gets closer, estimate number of residents who will need a
voucher
 Find polling place and make a plan to get all residents and vouchers to the sites
For more information about residential facility employee vouching please see the
Secretary of State’s website: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=1614 or
their list of frequently asked questions
(http://www.sos.state.mn.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4300).
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Hard-to-register groups
Registering college students
Students can vote in their hometowns, either by absentee or in person, or they can register and
vote at their school address. They can also do same day registration, with a school document or
a voucher.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can a student register here and at their home address?
No, the student must decide where he or she would like to be registered. If the student has
already registered at home, and he or she would like to register at his or her school address, he
or she must fill out a local registration form and make note that it is a change of address.
Q: Can a student who is not 18 register to vote?
If the voter is going to turn 18 by the next election, they can register.
Q: Where should an out-of-state student to register, here or in their home state?
That is up to the student to decide. If they are following politics at home, and have a lot of
interest in how that state votes in the presidential election or has other local political interests,
they may want to register at home – just make sure that they ask for their absentee ballot on
time and return it on time, so their vote counts. If it doesn’t matter to them, then they may
want to register to vote at their school address, so that they can just go to the local polling
place on voting day.
NOTE: If they are receiving financial aid that depends on being a resident of their home state (especially state aid),
they should register at that address, not their school address. In that situation, they could risk their financial aid,
because residency is determined by where one registers to vote .
Q. What specific documents can a student use for Election Day Registration?
There are a variety of documents a student can use for Election Day Registration. This includes
Student ID cards that includes a photo if the student is living in university-sponsored housing.
This is valid if the college or university provided a student housing list to election officials. A full
list of options is available on page 9-10 of this toolbox.
Registering persons experiencing homelessness
In Minnesota you do not need an address to register to vote. There are a few different options
for people experiencing homelessness or between permanent residences.
Pre-registration
People without permanent residences can register to vote using the address of a shelter where
they are staying if they plan to be living there at least some of the time to Election Day.
Otherwise applicants can describe in words where he or she lives "if the applicant lives in a
rural district or has a non-traditional address" (National Voter Registration Act of 1993). This
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means that voters who can identify a street corner, park bench, etc. as their home base by
listing a description (i.e. “on the corner of X and Y” or “under bridge X”) should not be
prevented from registering to vote. The description should be written on the street address line
of the registration card.
If a voter does not have an ID and does not know the last four digits of their social security
number when pre-registering by mail, their application may be “challenged.” On Election Day
they can complete their registration and vote if they bring a voucher.
Election Day registration
Voters can same-day register by using a registered voter in the precinct who can vouch under
oath that the person registering to vote lives in the precinct. If a voter lives in a homeless
shelter, an employee may vouch for them if the shelter submitted the names of its employees
to their county.
Vouching for shelter guests on Election Day
For homeless shelter employees to be eligible to vouch for residents the facility must fill out a
certifying form, http://www.sos.state.mn.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4299, or
write a list of employees on letterhead with the facility’s name and address, the date, name,
title and signature of person certifying employees. Then send the certification to their county
auditor at least 20 days before each election. If there is more than one facility in different
precincts and/or if employees only work at one of the facilities, each facility must have its own
certifying letter.
Employees may be listed on more than one of the certified employee lists if they work at more
than one facility. Employees do not have to live in the precinct, but must be Minnesota
residents and eligible Minnesota voters, although do not need to be registered. There is no limit
to the number of people for whom employees may vouch.
Things to do in order to vouch for residents:
 Discuss same day registration and get buy-in from your staff to vouch for residents
 Submit letter (or form) of employees to local county auditor 20 days before the election
 As Election Day gets closer, estimate number of residents who will need a voucher
 Find the polling place and make a plan to get all residents and vouchers to the sites
For more information about residential facility employee vouching please see the Secretary of
State’s website: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=1181.
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Registering people who fear for their safety
Pre-registration
A person who fears for their safety can ask their local county elections office to allow
them to register without adding their name and information to the public voting rolls.
The voter must provide their county elections office with a written request to have their
information taken off the public rolls for fear of safety of the voter or the voter’s family.
If they have not registered to vote, they should include their statement with their voter
registration application, so their name and address will be marked private.
Their name and address will appear on their polling place roster and in statewide
database of registered voters available to state and local elections officials. After the
election they can submit a letter to their county elections official asking them to
inactivate their record.
Election Day registration
A voter who fears for their safety can also register to vote on Election Day. They can
register to vote and bring along copies of both the above mentioned letters to be
attached to their voter registration application. This way, their information will not be in
the database at all before Election Day and will only be entered long enough to verify
that they voted at the address at which they registered to vote. If they choose this
option, they will have to re-register the next time they want to vote.
Safe at Home program
Safe at Home is a mail forwarding service program offered
For more information contact:
by the Secretary of State’s office in collaboration with local
Safe at Home, PO Box 17370
victim service providers. It is designed to help survivors of
St Paul, MN 55117-0370.
domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or others who
Phone: 651-201-1399
fear for their safety establish a confidential address,
Toll Free: 1-866-723-3035; Email:
allowing them to go about their lives, interacting with
Safe.athome@state.mn.us
MN Relay Service: 1-800-627public and private entities, without leaving traces of where
3529 or 711
they really live. Participants use an address that Safe at
Home assigns them and their correspondence is forwarded
to their actual mailing address, which is not disclosed. This
also allows participants to absentee vote. As part of the
.
program, participants petition to have their names
removed from the public voter rolls. This procedure is
explained at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=943.
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To become a Safe at Home program participant, one must apply with the assistance of
an Accredited Application Assistant. A list of agencies is available from the Secretary of
State, http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=878.
Registering people with prior felony-level conviction
In Minnesota one cannot vote while serving a sentence as result of a felony conviction.
Once the full sentence has been completed, including parole and probation, known as
“off paper” the right to vote is automatically reinstated. If a person resides in
Minnesota and is “off paper” his or her voting rights are restored, even if the felony
conviction was in another state. If unclear about his or her status, the person should
check with their parole officer.
It is a felony to register to vote before civil rights have been restored
A person should not register to vote until he or she has fully completed terms of
sentence, including parole and probation, even if their civil rights will be restored by
Election Day.
Status may be challenged
When they go to register and vote they may have their status challenged if the county
elections office was not notified that their civil rights have been restored. If this
happens, they should ask for the head elections judge, explain their situation, and ask to
take an oath swearing their right to vote. Once they have done this they should be able
to vote.
Options to register
Once a person’s civil rights have been restored, they have the two different registration
options available to all, pre-registration and Election Day Registration. If possible, preregistering is the best option for those who have just had their civil rights restored, so
problems may be resolved concerning eligibility before Election Day. They also have the
option of Election Day registration provided they have the correct proof of residence.
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Frequently asked voter registration questions
1. What if I registered but I didn’t receive anything in the mail from the Secretary of
State?
One should receive information about where to vote within a few weeks of registering.
If they do not, they should call their county’s elections office and ask them to check if
their registration was accepted. They should be sure to bring their ID to the polls just in
case.
2. What if my driver’s license has a different address from the one I live at now?
A voter should register using their current address. On Election Day he or she should be
able to vote. If there are problems, the voter may be asked to provide proof of his or her
new residence. A utility bill will be sufficient. A voter may also register on Election Day
using a utility bill or a voucher. A voucher is someone who lives in the voter’s precinct
and comes with him or her to the polls to verify the voter’s residence. A voter should
not forget to bring his or her ID to the polls!
3. How do I use a voucher?
A registered voter who lives in the precinct is allowed to vouch for the residence of up
to eight people on Election Day. For example, if a voter goes to the polls with his or her
neighbor, he or she is allowed to tell the election judge that they live in the precinct,
and his or her word and signed oath will be accepted as proof of the voter’s residence.
A voucher must live in the same precinct! There is only one exception to this rule: if the
voter lives in a registered residential facility, such as a nursing home or homeless
shelter, employees of that facility may vouch for any residents who require a voucher on
Election Day (see page 6)
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Sample Minnesota voter registration application
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Checklist for application completion and accuracy
It is essential to use this quick checklist after finishing each application—don’t let
mistakes go uncorrected that would spoil the application!
 Are the boxes at the top regarding eligibility checked off?
 Did the applicant use their full address including St/Ave and direction?
 Did the applicant follow the order of ID preference? (i.e. if the applicant has a MN
license or ID card he or she must use it; if the applicant doesn’t but has a SS number he
or she must use that, and so on)
 Did the applicant sign and date the card?
 Did you remind the applicant to bring an ID to the polls (not required, but best
practice)?
 Do you have a concrete plan to return the application in person within 10 days?
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Tips for setting up your operation in an office setting
There are many benefits to office registration. People are already coming to your office
for service or help—why not utilize the opportunity? Moreover, there is often an
established relationship whereby participants trust your judgment, and will listen if you
explain how registering and voting can help them. It also builds your organization’s
issue base. For example, if you run a disability advocacy organization, and you register
your clients to vote, not only have you created voters who will vote on disability
advocacy issues, but you can call on these people as policy advocates with decisionmakers.
Before you start
Get staff and leadership buy-in
It’s important to address any potential concerns staff may have. Before you approach
colleagues, make sure you can explain the benefits of voter registration to the
organization, your issues, and your community.
Train your staff
Utilize staff, small group, or individual meetings to train your staff on how to properly fill
out cards. Ensure that staff uses the checklist to identify problem spots with the cards,
so that cards they have clients fill out will be accepted.
How can I convince someone to
It is highly recommended that you do an overview
register if they are disinclined?
of the election. (What offices are in play? What
Appeal to their emotions. What do
are key dates? How will the positions being
they care about? What affects
elected have influence over key decisions that
their family? How do those things
affect participants?) Many service providers that
relate to voting? If it doesn’t work,
have implemented these in-office options have
leave them some information; tell
them you would like to speak with
discovered that if the staff doesn’t understand
them again if they change their
the electoral context, they are both unable to
mind.
answer questions posed by those they are
registering AND they are unlikely to understand
why it is important to provide this service and engage people in the process.
Getting started
Have cards available at the front desk
Ask the people who customarily have the first contact with the people who receive your
services to offer registration to everyone who enters.
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Have front-line employees offer registration to all their clients
Case workers, social workers, counselors, attorneys—the people who meet directly with
participants—are the most credible and effective messengers of voter registration.
Getting their buy-in is essential, particularly as they might have reservations about
diverting valuable client-contact time in the short term. However, the more people
participate in the decisions that affect their lives, the less ‘damage control’ nonprofits
agencies will need to shoulder in the long term. Voting is a principle way
underrepresented communities build power and change policies.
Return cards within 10 days
Set up a system to collect cards and turn them in
Never forget: cards must be turned in within 10 days of the date they were filled out!
Don’t waste all your effort by forgetting to turn them in!
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Outline for voter registration tabling in the community
Tabling is one of the best ways to register voters. It is easy to set up and can be very
effective. This outline will show you the best ways to table, and where and when you
should plan to do it.
 Be entertaining
o Offer candy or a prize
o Have a fun game to play
o Entice children, that will
get their parents to you
Where to Table
 Community events
o Block Parties
o Large Celebrations
o High School Graduation
Parties
 High traffic areas
o Grocery stores or malls
o College campuses
o Churches
When
 Weekends
o Stay out of the sun
 Not at stressful times
o No holidays or days before
holidays
o Not in extreme heat or
cold
o Not during rush hour
Steps to Take
 Get permission from leaders or
store owners
o Recruit volunteers
o Set up in advance
Add registrants to your list
 Get permission to contact
registrants
 Add registrants to your
GOTV list (if applicable)
How to be proactive
 Clipboards
o Send people into the
crowd
o Approach people as they
come in
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Guide to running a volunteer canvass
Here are frequently asked questions about door knocking to help you run a volunteer
canvass for voter registration. The more you organize and prepare for your volunteers, the
easier it will be for them to get out there and register people to vote!
How do I decide where to go?
We call this decision “targeting,” and you can do it in two ways:
1. Target the people on your organization’s list who are not registered. This is effective
because it hits the exact people you know need to register, and those people are
already affiliated with your organization.
2. Target by neighborhood/precinct. The League of Women Voters should have
statistics that tell you which neighborhoods have the lowest turnout. The Secretary
of State’s office also has this information by precinct.
How big of a route can each person do?
If volunteers have to drive to specific houses, it is best not to give them very many,
especially if the layout of the area is not well-organized. As a rough estimate, 20 houses is
probably enough in a 3 hour time span if the houses are far apart, 30-35 if they are close. If
volunteers will be going door-to-door, 4-8 blocks of houses should work, depending on the
skill of the volunteer.
What should I give my volunteers?
Every volunteer should get a clipboard or piece of hard paper, instructions with an
emergency contact number, a helpful hints or do’s and don’ts guide, a script, a map, a pen,
voter registration cards, and a sheet they can ask new voters to sign giving you permission
to contact them later.
What if they want to go in pairs?
Send in pairs, but ask them to work on opposite sides of the street or alternate houses.
What do I need to teach my volunteers?
Explain in great detail the cards themselves. Go over the trouble spots a few times. Go over
the process of what they should do and the script you have prepared. Impress on them the
importance of personal safety and of being respectful to the voters. Practice with them, and
give them hints on how to improve their rap. Remind your volunteers they must commit to
staying nonpartisan. Give them bottled water to take with them on their walk.
What else am I forgetting?
Door knocking is an enjoyable activity, and voter registration is a powerful one; make sure
people enjoy what they are doing.
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Sample script for voter registration door knocking
This is a sample script, which can be altered for your organization, and used to help you
door knock to register voters. You may want to make your script more in depth. You
could provide additional information, or ask other questions.
Script for Canvassers
Hi, my name is John Johnson; I am with the Minnesota Action Organization. We are out
in the neighborhood today registering voters.
1. Are you registered to vote?

IF YES: Great! Have you moved recently?
o IF YES: Well then you need to register at your new address. (Move to
question 2)
o IF NO: Well it looks like you are all set, thank you for your time.

IF NO: (Move to question 2)
2. Can I help you register right now? It will just take a few minutes.

IF YES: (Register the person to vote)

IF NO: Are you sure? It is very important to vote and it will just take a few
minutes. (If the person still says no, thank them and move on).
3. We would like to add you to the MN Action Organization’s list. If that is ok, then we
will remind you of your polling place when the election gets close. Can I have you fill
this out? (Hand them permission sheet).
4. Thank you very much! I am glad you decided to register and vote!
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Instruction page for volunteer door knockers
This sample instruction sheet can be given to door knockers. This sheet may be more
complex than many of you need it to be. For others it may not give enough detail. Use it at
as a guide to the kinds of things you need to make sure your volunteers know and do.
Instructions for Canvassers
Thank you for volunteering with The Minnesota Action Organization! We appreciate your
help. We want to make your door knocking effort as effective and fun for both you and
MAO as possible. Please follow these instructions carefully.
 Make sure you and your partner work closely together. Check in with each other
at the end of each block. If one of you is going slower than the other, wait for the
other person to finish.
 Please knock only on doors that reside within the route on your map. Other
volunteers will be working the area on either side, and we do not want to overlap.
 Do not enter any homes. Do not enter yards that look scary. Do not put yourself
into any situation that makes you concerned about your personal safety.
 Fill out the card with the person and take it with you.
 Make sure you remember to have them check the boxes at the top.
 Make sure you follow the ID chain properly (MN ID or Drivers License/Last 4 digits
of social security number/NONE).
 Make sure they fill out their whole address, including street and direction.
 Encourage them to fill out the permission sheet so that we can contact them.
 If you have questions or a problem call us at 651-999-9999. If there is an
emergency call 911.
 When you return at the end, cross off the streets you finished, and turn in your
clipboard and cards.
 Thank you again. Have fun out there!
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Helpful hints for door knockers
Door knocking is a highly effective way to register potential voters and get them to the
polls. These tips will help you make sure that your door knocking experience is fun and
successful.
1. Grab a bottle of water. You will get thirsty and it may be hot out.
2. Rattle gates and look for dogs in yards.
3. Expect that you might only get an answer at 1/3 of the doors.
4. Do not enter houses. Do not enter yards that look scary. Do not put yourself in
any situation that makes you uncomfortable for your safety.
5. Knock on the door instead of ringing the bell. Many doorbells are broken.
6. Wait just 10-20 seconds after knocking on the door.
7. It’s okay to say that you do not know the answer to a question. In that case, try
to register the person anyway.
8. Be respectful of people’s property. Close gates and don’t walk on lawns.
9. Use the emergency contact information if you have problems.
10. Carry a small amount of money and/or a cell phone with you so that you can call
someone if you need help.
11. Never go into an apartment building by yourself.
12. Do not argue, simply thank the person and tell them you have to move on.
13. Do not spend too much time at one house. It’s okay to listen politely and then
tell the person that you have many more houses to go for your route.
14. Smile and have fun!
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Available resources
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Rinal Ray
Public Policy Advocate
651-757-3072, rray@minnesotanonprofits.org
Susie Brown
Public Policy Director
651-757-3060, sbrown@minnesotanonprofits.org
http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org
Nonprofit Vote
http://www.nonprofitvote.org
Minnesota Secretary of State
1-877-600-VOTE (8683)
elections.dept@state.mn.us
http://www.mnvotes.org
County elections office
https://minnesota.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/eod.htm
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