Nonprofit VOTE is pleased to share our latest voter registration resource for nonprofits. This new video walks you through the process of asking a potential voter to register, as well as how to fill out a registration form. It features two scenarios, one for registering a new voter and another for updating an address. Offering voter registration is... read more
The general election will be here before you know it, so to help you prepare we’re hosting a webinar every month until November. We’ll cover a variety of voter engagement topics to ensure you know how to conduct registration drives, educate voters, and get out the vote–all while staying nonpartisan! Remember, our webinars are free... read more
To help you prepare for this year’s election, we’ve updated and expanded our factsheet series! In addition to information on 501(c)(3) permissible activities and working with candidates, we have new factsheets on: Election Day Registration, explaining what it is, which states have it, and how it helps voters keep their registration current. Expanding... read more
With 2012 underway, it’s important for your nonprofit to think about how you plan to register, educate, and engage voters. Join us for: Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012Thursday January 26th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern In this webinar we’ll discuss when, where and how to incorporate voter engagement activities into your... read more
A new CIRCLE study, “Understanding a Diverse Generation: Youth Civic Engagement in the United States,” provides an in-depth analysis of recent youth civic engagement trends. The findings challenge many common myths about the ways in which young people (ages 18-29) are involved in our political system. The study found that at least three... read more
There’s still time to register for this week’s webinar (and our final one of 2011). We’ll help you start planning for next year’s general election and how your nonprofit can maximize your impact with the resources you already have. Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012Thursday December 1st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern The... read more
Our final webinar of 2011 will start you thinking about next year’s general election and how your nonprofit can maximize your impact with the resources you already have. Plan Ahead: Building a Voter Engagement Timeline for 2012Thursday December 1st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern The 2012 presidential election will be here soon, and it’s time to start... read more
We’re pleased to announce that our new voter turnout report, Voter Participation Gaps in the 2010 Midterm Election, is now available! It is the latest in our America Goes to the Polls series, and is based on the newly released biennial Census survey on voting and registration. The report tracks, analyzes, and explains income, age, education, and... read more
Thank you to everyone who joined last Thursday’s webinar, States Move to Restrict Voting: How Nonprofits Can Protect the Right to Vote. And a special thanks to Megan Donovan and Ellis Jacobs for sharing their expertise with us. The presentation and associated materials are now available: Watch the presentation online (with audio) or download... read more
There’s still time to register for this week’s webinar on recent election law changes! States Move to Restrict Voting – How Nonprofits Can Defend the Right to VoteThursday October 27th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern 2011 has seen an unprecedented nationwide effort to pass legislation that creates voter registration barriers and limits access... read more
Earlier this month, the Brennan Center published a new report on “Voting Law Changes in 2012” that details and analyzes the bills that have been proposed and passed since the beginning of this year. Most have made it much more difficult for citizens to both register and vote. Restrictions have come in many forms, including: Photo ID requirements.... read more
Our October webinar will address new election laws that make it difficult for countless voters to register and cast their ballot. Many nonprofits are now wondering how to best help their clients participate under the new rules, but are also seeking information on how they can fight back against restrictive voting laws. States Move to Restrict Voting... read more
The Census Bureau has released data on “Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2010” that compares voting and registration patterns by demographic, social, and geographic characteristics. This release is the latest in a series of national reports that is one of the most frequently cited sources for registration and turnout... read more
As you may have heard, September is our favorite voter registration month, and it’s this month’s webinar topic too! The ABCs of Nonpartisan Voter RegistrationThursday September 29th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Registering to vote is the first and most necessary step to becoming an active and engaged voter. This webinar will explain how your nonprofit... read more
Survey says…yes! Earlier this year, the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) polled 560 nonprofit staff members to learn more about the sector’s voting patterns. Respondents included 114 “executive and senior managers” and 446 “line-staff personnel,” described as mid-managers, caseworkers, program and clerical... read more
Many states and municipalities have upcoming registration deadlines, so it’s the perfect time to talk about one of our favorite voter engagement basics–voter registration! We’re pleased to present our new Voter Registration Toolkit for Nonprofits and Social Service Agencies. This toolkit describes the role nonprofits can play in registering... read more
Thanks for joining yesterday’s webinar, Think Locally: The Value of Municipal and Regional Elections. The PowerPoint presentation is now available, along with the audio portion of the presentation in MP3 format. You can also watch the full presentation, including audio, online. If you have additional questions about municipal and local elections,... read more
You can still sign up for Thursday’s webinar: Think Locally: The Value of Municipal and Regional ElectionsThursday August 18th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Typically, voter turnout is significantly lower in local elections than in national or statewide races. The upside is that municipal, city, and other regional elections give your nonprofit an unparalleled... read more
Although there are no presidential candidates on the ballot this year, your nonprofit and community still have plenty to gain from participating in local elections. Think Locally: The Value of Municipal and Regional ElectionsThursday August 18th, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Typically, voter turnout is significantly lower in local elections than in national... read more
Thanks to everyone who joined us for last week’s webinar Laws on the Ballot: How Nonprofits Can Take a Stand on Ballot Questions. The presentation is now available as a PDF along with the audio portion. You can also watch the presentation with audio online. If you have questions about how your nonprofit can take a stand on ballot questions, the... read more
In the spirit of American independence, join us for our July webinar on direct democracy. Laws on the Ballot: How Nonprofits Can Take a Stand on Ballot QuestionsThursday July 28th, 2:00-3:00pm EasternMany states put laws and constitutional amendments on the ballot, asking voters to make critical public policy decisions at the polls. Often, nonprofits... read more
Thank you to everyone who joined us for last Thursday’s webinar, Nonpartisan Candidate Forums: Building Clout for your Nonprofit. A special thanks to Cheryl Crawford and George Pillsbury for sharing their expertise. Due to technical difficulties during the webinar, the recording was clipped. We apologize for the inconvenience. Nevertheless, you... read more
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) recently made news when it came up on the House budget chopping block. (It survived.) In the meantime, the EAC has released a new report on voter registration statistics from after the 2008 general election through the 2010 midterm election. The report covers the number of registered voters, the registration... read more
Join Nonprofit VOTE on Thursday as we discuss techniques for organizing an effective candidate forum, how to stay nonpartisan throughout the process, and for tools to help you every step of the way. The webinar, Nonpartisan Candidate Forums: Building Political Clout for Your Nonprofit is Thursday, June 23rd at 2:00pm Eastern. Cheryl Crawford, Director... read more
Last week Rock the Vote released a new state Voting System Scorecard which found that most states are failing to both prepare and engage young people in the democratic process. Using a 21-point scale, the scorecard measures state laws and policies on voter registration, casting a ballot, and young voter preparation. According to the scorecard, the states... read more
We hope you can join us for this month’s webinar: Nonpartisan Candidate Forums: Building Political Clout for Your NonprofitThursday, June 23rd at 2:00pm EasternHosting a nonpartisan candidate forum gives your nonprofit the opportunity to educate candidates and the public about the issues that matter to your organization and the communities you... read more
During the 2010 midterm election, a first of its kind study assessed–and ultimately affirmed–the agency-based approach to increasing voter participation. Conducted with the support of Nonprofit VOTE and the Michigan Nonprofit Association, this new research demonstrates the effectiveness of nonprofit voter engagement efforts. The study found... read more
Earlier this week we congratulated Michigan for taking advantage of naturalization ceremonies to register new citizens. It’s the perfect example of how to effectively integrate voter registration into ongoing activities. By reaching out to clients while providing services (or during classes or events) nonprofits can register voters with equal... read more
Many thanks to last week’s webinar attendees! We are pleased that so many joined us for Nonprofits Increase Voter Participation: New Research from the Field to hear about the importance of nonprofit voter engagement. Whether or not you were able to tune in, you can still access the materials online: download the PowerPoint and the audio portion... read more
Please join us on Thursday for a webinar that will show just how effective nonprofit voter engagement is and why your nonprofit should be doing it. Nonprofits Increase Voter Participation: New Research from the FieldThursday, May 12th at 2:00pm EasternLearn about exciting new evidence documenting the impact nonprofits have when they talk to their clients... read more
Please join us for our upcoming webinar: Nonprofits Increase Voter Participation: New Research from the FieldThursday, May 12th at 2:00pm EasternLearn about exciting new evidence documenting the impact nonprofits have when they talk to their clients and constituents about voting. Professor Kelly LeRoux will discuss a new study that tracked the outcomes... read more
Nonprofit VOTE is pleased to present the latest installment in our series of voter turnout reports: America Goes to the Polls 2010: A Report on Voter Turnout in the 2010 ElectionBeyond the official state-by-state turnout rankings, this report details key voting trends such as the wide gap in youth turnout, the rise in early voting, and the continued... read more
At least according to the National Association of Counties. So first off, thanks to the many county government employees and officials who help make our elections (and plenty more) work. To honor local government and help promote election procedures and information, the Election Assistance Commission has developed detailed guidebooks and educational... read more
Whether or not you were able to join us for yesterday’s webinar “Power in Numbers: Putting 2010 Census Data to Use,” you can still access it online! You can download both the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion (in MP3 format) or watch the full presentation online. If you have questions for any of our presenters, feel free... read more
Thank you to everyone who participated in Wednesday’s webinar, Getting a Seat at the Table: What Nonprofits Should Know About Redistricting. A special thanks to our presenter Justin Levitt for lending us his expertise. The PowerPoint is available for download along with the audio portion of the presentation in MP3 format. Alternatively, you can... read more
Don’t forget to join us Wednesday for our first webinar of 2011: Getting a Seat at the Table: What Nonprofits Should Know About RedistrictingWednesday, March 16th at 2:00pm EasternRedistricting is right around the corner and critical decisions will be made that can affect our communities, our missions, and our funding for the next decade. Tune... read more
Our new “Register to Vote” poster is now available to order! Whether you’re gearing up for a municipal election or just want to make voting more visible at your organization, this poster is the perfect tool. Voter registration is one way your nonprofit can promote voter participation year-round. Want tips on how to get started? Download... read more
The dates are set for our first two webinars of 2011! Please join us for:Getting a Seat at the Table: What Nonprofits Should Know About RedistrictingWednesday, March 16th at 2:00pm EasternRedistricting is right around the corner and critical decisions will be made that can affect our communities, our missions, and our funding for the next decade. Tune... read more
Did you know the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has e-learning resources? While some are geared toward candidates and campaign regulations, others are targeted toward individual voters. These include: • An overview of the Commission and the laws it administers and enforces.• An overview of the volunteer activities individuals may engage in to... read more
Nonprofit VOTE would like to thank the hundreds of local nonprofits and service providers that responded to our online survey about their 2010 voter engagement activities. The survey examined how nonprofit staff and stakeholders approached voter engagement work, which activities were most common, which materials were used most frequently, their value... read more
…and it doesn’t bring good news for New Orleans. Last week, the Census Bureau released new data showing that New Orleans experienced a population loss of 140,845 residents–a drop of 29% from 2000. In addition to losing New Orleans city residents, Louisiana also lost a congressional seat (down to six from seven). Because of the exodus... read more
Good news if you live in California, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas, or Wisconsin! Yesterday the Sunlight Foundation and the Participatory Politics Foundation launched OpenGovernment, a tool designed to make local government more accessible and accountable. OpenGovernment is modeled off of a similar project, OpenCongress, which lets users track bills, votes,... read more
A New Year, new elections, and new data can only mean one thing—the return of Nonprofit VOTE’s webinar series! Our 2011 webinar topics will include:* Nonprofits and the 2010 Census* Redistricting* Conducting Candidate Forums* Nonprofits and Ballot Measures* A Primer on Nonpartisan Voter Participation* Election reform and more! Our first webinar... read more
With the holiday season upon us, many nonprofits are looking for volunteers to help staff special programs and services, as well as continuing to recruit folks to help with day-to-day activities. Thus, December is the perfect time to talk about this particular aspect of civic engagement. People volunteer for a variety of reasons: it makes them feel... read more
Michigan’s Macomb County is a historian’s dream come true. The county has posted a plethora of information online, including death records, campaign finance reports, and county commissioner minutes dating back to 1924. Now, the county will also be posting its election journals. Election records from 1998 to the present are already available online,... read more
Want to get your nonprofit involved in the election but not sure what to do? Try out some of our suggestions below to make this Election Day a success! 1. Increase visibility around the election. Turn up the volume by including voting reminders in all of your communications. Post signs and decorate with streamers to create a celebratory atmosphere and... read more
Missed last week’s webinar on Get Out the Vote and Election Day for Nonprofits? Not to worry! You an still access all of the information and ensure that your nonprofit is prepared for Election Day next week! Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us with any questions. Julian Johannesene-mail: julian@nonprofitvote.orgphone: 617-357-8683 Sophie... read more
Research by the nonpartisan Easy Voter Guide Project shows that one of the major reasons individuals don’t vote is because they think the voting process is difficult. That same study also found that many first-time voters can’t read the official ballot pamphlet or sample ballot, are uncertain about what will happen at the polls, and think that... read more
Early voting is one of this season’s buzz words, and we’ve already explained the differences between early voting in person and early voting by mail, as well as covering the kickoff of early voting in many places across the country. Interest and participation in early voting has dramatically increased in recent years: According to the U.S.... read more
Thank you to those of you who attended yesterday’s webinar “Voter Education and GOTV for Nonprofits,” with Robynne Curlee and Sophie Lehman. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have further questions. Bridgette Rongitsche-mail: bridgette@mncn.orgphone: 651-757-3085 Sophie Lehmane-mail: sophie@nonprofitvote.orgphone: 617-357-8683 You... read more
Each election cycle, voters brace themselves for an onslaught of stories, campaign ads, and direct mailings. However, a new report released by the American National Election Studies (ANES) shows that the intensity of direct voter contact we perceive is, in fact, overstated. In examining electorate mobilization, ANES polled citizens, asking: “Did... read more
Many thanks to those of you who joined us for yesterday’s webinar “Voter Education for Nonprofits,” with Bridgette Rongitsch and Julian Johannesen. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have further questions. Bridgette RongitschNational Directore-mail: bridgette@mncn.orgphone: 651-757-3085 Julian JohannesenResearch and... read more
The Brennan Center for Justice released a new report, “Voting System Failures: A Database Solution.” The report–inspired by tales of failed voting machines and lost votes–suggests a simple solution to the mayhem: a “new and better regulatory structure to ensure that voting system defects are caught early, officials in affected jurisdictions... read more
Thanks again to everyone who tuned in for yesterday’s webinar, “Voter Registration and Voter Education for Nonprofits,“ with Bridgette Rongitsch and Robynne Curlee. If you have questions or would like to continue the conversation, please feel free to be in touch using the contact information below. Bridgette RongitschNational Directore-mail:... read more
The wiki world has a new addition: Ballotpedia, “a community of users dedicated to fairness and openness in politics.” Like other wikis, Ballotpedia allows registered users to add content, edit the site, and fix mistakes. Ballotpedia also employs a handful of writers to create, edit, and monitor content. Ballotpedia covers a slew of issues: elections,... read more
The Monitor recently reported on a group of ten nonprofit organizations in the Rio Grande Valley that have banded together to increase voter turnout in the November elections. “We’re going to change the culture of the Valley because we need change and the only way that will happen is through our vote,” one of the coalition coordinators said. The... read more
I moved to another state. What should I do? I moved within my state. What should I do if I moved within my county or town? If I moved to a different county or town? The election is right around the corner and I never updated my registration after my move. What should I do if I moved nearby? If I moved within my county or town? If I moved to a... read more
EAC – Citizens who speak Cherokee, Dakota, Navajo and Yup’ik, the most commonly spoken Native American and Alaska Native languages in the U.S., will now have access to federal election voter guides in their native languages. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Language Assistance Program translated the guides to improve voting accessibility... read more
In an effort to engage more young voters, Rock the Vote is enlisting the help of partner organizations and ordinary citizens to put the word out to their respective online communities. The voter registration tool can be easily embedded on websites, blogs, Facebook pages, and MySpace profiles, allowing almost anyone to spread the word and help register... read more
We hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! We’re back in the office and happy to report that while we were away, we got some great feedback from you on this past Thursday’s webinar, “Voter Participation Basics for Nonprofits,” We appreciate your enthusiasm and support and we’re already looking forward to our next webinar,... read more
Tweets as part of the legislative record? Cool…. From The Thicket… If your legislature uses Twitter, those Tweets, along with every other public tweet since Twitter’s inception in March 2006, will now be archived digitally at the Library of Congress. The Minnesota Historical Society’s (MHS) Model Technological and Social Architecture... read more
The Overseas Vote Foundation website provides a wealth of information for those living abroad. The easy to follow website has a section devoted to youth voters, military personnel and those living abroad. Each section not only contains information regarding absentee voting and registration but it also contains election official information for each... read more
California voters passed Proposition 14 today, which asked for an open statewide primary instead of separate party-based primaries in California election. However, there are many more interesting ballot questions to come in 2010. The National Conference of State Legislatures has a great, albeit still premature, rundown of what questions we can expect... read more
Rock the Vote has launched its “new and improved” Register to Vote tool for 2010. Use the tool to register to vote now or to update your registration. read more
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has issued a guide for citizens about voter registration and voting in the November presidential election. In addition to the basics of ballot-casting, the guide explains special voting procedures, such as early, absentee, and military and overseas voting. “This guide is a one-stop resource for all types of... read more
Timed well with the kickoff of the Census ground non-response followup, the Pew Hispanic Center has updated maps of the Latino/Hispanic population by county on its website. The maps show population numbers, shares and growth for 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2008, using population estimates and Decennial Census data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The county data... read more
Building on the spread of online voter registration, Project Vote is preparing to launch a voter registration application for the iPad, the new tablet computer released by Apple this spring. Traditional pen-and-clipboard voter registration drives produce reams of paper for both organizations leading the registration effort and election officials charged... read more
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Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the leading source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services.