Welcome Voter Engagement Training July 21, 2016 Rodef Shalom Tweet This Training! #nonprofitvote @GPNPpgh @npvote
In Intr troductio ions • Samantha Balbier, GPNP Executive Director • David Streeter, GPNP Public Policy Project Manager • Deaglan McManus, GPNP Nonprofit Vote Coordinator • Lindsey Hodel, Nonprofit Vote National Field Director
Cohort of f Parti ticip ipatin ing Agencies • Amachi Pittsburgh • Auberle • Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh • Community Human Services • Consumer Health Coalition • Family Services of Western PA • Focus On Renewal • Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank • Jewish Family & Children's Service of Pittsburgh • Just Harvest • Latino Family Center • National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children • Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project • Seton Hill University • YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh • YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
Agenda • Importance of Civic Engagement Group Activity: Impact Statements • What are we voting for? • Staying Nonpartisan • Best Practices for Voter Engagement Group Activity: Voter Registration • Resources • Wrap-Up/Questions • Send Off
THE IMPORTANCE OF NONPROFITS IN VOTER ENGAGEMENT Presented by
ABOUT US 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. About Us Visit our site to learn more: www.nonprofitvote.org
2016 STATE PARTNERS – Arizona: Protecting Arizona’s Families Coalition – Colorado: Community Resource Center – Illinois: Forefront Illinois – Maryland: Maryland Nonprofits – Massachusetts: Mass VOTE – Michigan: Michigan Nonprofit Association – New York: Community Votes NY – North Carolina: Democracy NC – Ohio: Cleveland Votes (Cleveland) and COOHIO (Columbus) – Pennsylvania: Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership – Texas: AACT (McAllen) and Neighborhood Centers (Houston)
VOTER TURNOUT GAPS We know young voters, lower income voters, Latinos, and Asian Americans turn out to vote at significantly lower rates than older voters, higher income voters, and whites and blacks. Gaps
VOTER TURNOUT GAPS 60% 53% 48% 46% 42% 40% 27% 20% 20% 0% >$50k <$50k NH White Latino/AAPI >30yrs <30yrs Over $50k NH White Over 30
DOES IT MATTER? Percent in Favor of Policy, Nonvoters Earning <$30k vs Voters Earning > $150k 80% 59% 60% 51% 50% 40% 24% 22% 21% 20% 0% Government should increase Government should increase Government should guarantee services spending on the poor jobs and standard of living Low income High Income
DOES IT MATTER?
GAPS IN VOTER OUTREACH Were You Contacted by Either Party about Voting in 2012? 80% 70% 60% 55% 40% 40% 26% 24% 20% Mobilization Gaps 0% 18-21 22-37 38-53 54-69 70-85
THE POWER OF NONPROFITS Nonprofit service providers, community-based organizations and the broader civic sector have the power to reach these neglected voters and turn them out to vote. Power of Nonprofits
WHY NONPROFITS? • We are well suited to do this work • If we don’t engage our constituents – it is likely no one else will • When we do this work, we are effective Why Nonprofits
NONPROFIT ASSETS • Frequent face-to-face and one-on- one contact with clients/consumers • Trusted messengers • Deeply rooted in local communities • Cultural competency • Mission aligned Nonprofit Assets
TURNOUT BY AGE Age
TURNOUT BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
TURNOUT BY INCOME Income
HEALTH BENEFITS OF VOTING
WE CAN CREATE AN ACCOUNTABLE DEMOCRACY Quincy, MA – A Case Study, 2015 Midterm Election • Coalition of AAPI focused CBOs and various neighborhood groups worked together • Through various voter engagement efforts this coalition increased voter turnout significantly • As a result, they made history – two Asian Americans were elected for the first time in the city’s history Quincy!
RESOURCES • Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at www.nonprofitvote.org Resources
Group Acti tivit ity Voter registration is important to our organization (or to our mission) because ______________________!
On The Ball llot: Offi fices • President of the United States • Senator in the U.S. Senate • Representative in the U.S. House • PA Attorney General • PA Auditor General • PA Treasurer • Senator in the PA Senate (Odd Numbered Districts) • Representative in the PA House
On The Ball llot: Questi tions State Wide • Constitutional Amendment Regarding Judicial Retirement Age (previously on the primary ballot) Local • Pittsburgh: Housing Trust Fund and Open Government ( gathering signatures ) • Jeannette: Public Library Funding Tax ( confirmed on ballot ) • Donegal Township (Washington County): Increasing Size of Township Board ( confirmed on ballot ) Local ballot questions will vary by jurisdiction. Contact your county elections office for the most current information. Filing deadlines is August 9 th .
STAYING NONPARTISAN AS 501(c)(3) NONPROFIT
AGENDA Basic Rule Voter Engagement at Work Political Activity Outside of Work Agenda
THE ONE RULE A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may not support or oppose a candidate for public office. May NOT – • Make an endorsement • Donate money or resources AT WORK • Rate candidates on your issue
VOTER ENGAGEMENT AT WORK 501(c)(3) Guidelines for Election Activity Voter Registration Voter Education Candidate Engagement Get Out The Vote
WHAT NONPROFITS CAN DO Nonprofits may conduct nonpartisan voter engagement activities designed to help the public participate in elections. • Voter Registration • Voter Education • Candidate Forums AT WORK • Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
1. VOTER REGISTRATION • Promote voter registration – Use your communications and events to announce registration deadlines, where to register. • Conduct a voter registration activity – Set up a table in your lobby, do voter registration as part of services – Hold a voter registration event or drive AT WORK May not suggest which party to join or candidate to vote for.
2. VOTER EDUCATION • On the process of voting – Date of the election, polling place hours, what ID they need to vote, etc. • On candidates and issues – Nonpartisan voter guides or a sample ballot AT Voter guides must be balanced and can’t WORK compare your position with the candidates
3. CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT • Invite candidates to an event • Sponsor a candidate forum • Prepare a candidate questionnaire • Send candidates your policy ideas • Include all candidates (not all must AT participate) WORK • Review nonpartisan guidelines on our website- www.nonprofitvote.org
4. GET OUT THE VOTE • Create visibility: Make the election visible at your agency • Help people vote: Help people to vote; answer questions • Get out the vote: Contact all your constituents about voting AT 501(c)(3) nonprofits may not endorse WORK candidates. But we may endorse voting!
5. BALLOT MEASURES • 501c3 nonprofits may work for or against a ballot measure as a lobbying activity • Activity on ballot measures is lobbying. It’s influencing the passage or defeat of a law – not the election of a candidate AT WORK
501c3 RESOURCES
POLITICAL ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK The Basic Guideline What Nonprofit Staff Can Do OUTSIDE WORK
THE BASIC GUIDELINE Nonprofit staff are free to engage in partisan activities, such as supporting a candidate, outside of normal work hours – off the clock OUTSIDE WORK
WHAT STAFF CAN DO • What: – Volunteer on campaigns – Attend political events – Support your candidate – Run for office • When: – Personal time outside work hours – On vacation OUTSIDE – On personal days WORK – On unpaid leave
WHAT TO AVOID • Use nonprofit resources including your time for partisan political purposes • Be partisan when representing your nonprofit at or outside of work OUTSIDE WORK
BEST PRACTICES IN NONPROFIT VOTER ENGAGEMENT Presented by
AGENDA Opportunity 2016 Making a Plan The Six Steps Voter Engagement Tactics Voter Registration Candidate Engagement Ballot Measures Agenda Voter Education & Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
OPPORTUNITY 2016 • 34 Senate races will take place in 2016 (9 expected to be highly competitive). • All 435 members of the House will be on the ballot (33 races predicted to be highly competitive). • 12 states will have governor’s races. • Hundreds of ballot measures. • Presidential years are good years to capitalize on the excitement and media coverage generated by the presidential race.
MAKING A PLAN
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