Elements of a Successful GOTV Program
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Guide to Developing a Successful GOTV Program for 501(c)(3)s What is GOTV? GOTV stands for Get Out The Vote! GOTV stands for Get Out The Vote! A GOTV drive can be categorized as an electoral advocacy activity. If the drive focuses on a specific ballot issue(s), then the GOTV drive will be classified as a direct lobbying activity. See the Do’s and Don’ts of Electoral Advocacy for more details about the difference between electoral advocacy and lobbying. GOTV is not a single activity but a coordinated effort of nonpartisan activities that seek to encourage those who support your issue to vote. These efforts must be nonpartisan, focused solely on the importance of voting and how to register. Existing Information and Supporters Resources Elements of a New Supporters Successful Supporter GOTV Program Contact Volunteers, Staffing, and Budget Messaging,Content, and Context How to Use this Guide to GOTV Programs This guide contains: A Step-by-Step Tool to Developing a Successful GOTV Program ..........................2 Supporting Documents ..........................................................3–12 A Reference Page for the Step-by-Step Tool .........................................3 A Timeline to Guide GOTV Planning Activities .......................................4 Guide to Planning GOTV Activities On and Before Election Day ........................4 Sample Early Voting Script for Door-to-Door and Phone Banking Activities................8 GOTV Frequently Asked Questions .............................................8–10 GOTV Guide to Questions Voters Often Ask ....................................11–12 Cleveland Columbus Washington, DC Phoenix 1277 West 104th St. 2612 Zollinger Road 300 New Jersey Avenue, NW 207 North Gilbert Road Cleveland, OH 44102 Columbus, OH 43221 Suite 900, PMB 9005 Suite 007 Washington, DC 20001 Phoenix, AZ 85234 www.advocacyandcommunication.org For more information about ACS, please contact us at [email protected]. © Copyright 2015 by Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC. 10 Steps to Organizing a Successful GOTV Program Step 1 Define Purpose Step 6 Recruit Volunteers Local, statewide, or national office: Volunteers: To increase organizational recognition: To get all candidates to mention your issue: Step 7 Materials Materials that already exist: Step 2 Determine Internal Capacity Budget: Materials from the Board of Elections Office: Staff: Time: Finalize Messaging, Call to Action, Materials to develop: Step 3 and Content Message: Step 8 Identify New Supporters Call to action: Target audience: Content: Step 4 Identify Current Supporters Conduct Outreach Activities Step 9 in Advance of Election Day Current supporters: Types of activities conducted prior to Election Day: Connections to those supporters: Step 5 Determine GOTV Drive Logistics Conduct Outreach Activities Dates: Step 10 Election Day! Activities: Types of activities conducted on Election Day: Locations: Partners: Resources: Guide to Developing a Successful Get Out The Vote Program for 501(c)(3)s © Copyright 2015 by Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC. Visit www.advocacyandcommunication.org or email [email protected] for more information. 2 Supporting Documents Reference Page to Fill Out the 10 Steps to Organizing a Successful GOTV Program Step 1 Define Purpose Step 7 Materials Your purpose should answer the question: Why is it important for • Materials include items the volunteers will need to conduct the GOTV supporters of your issue to vote during this election (candidates, ballot activities, as well as the materials given to the audience. It is also issues, elected/appointed agency positions, etc.)? helpful to have a frequently asked questions document for voters. Step 2 Determine Internal Capacity • Get in touch with your Local or State Election Office and ask for nonpartisan registration materials (flyers, buttons, booklets, website • Who will lead the GOTV effort? messages) as well as more information on conducting a Get Out The • How much time are they able to devote to this effort? Vote program. • What is the budget for the GOTV effort? • On printed materials be sure to use links to important information (i.e. Board of Elections, your organization’s website). Finalize Messaging, Call to Action, • Write scripts for any phone banking or door-to-door activities. Step 3 and Content • If you develop materials of your own, be sure to include the Federal • What message do you want to deliver? Your message can be about disclaimers (see FAQ for more information). the importance of your issue and voting broadly, or more specific information about important ballot issues that will impact your issue Step 8 ID New Supporters and why it is important to vote. • Determine your target audience(s) for your GOTV activities. All of • Determine a call to action in your message (i.e., volunteer to contact your outreach will be geared toward this audience. voters, vote early, vote on Election Day). • Your target audience should be those who already support your • Is there any additional content that you need to provide your audience issue or your organization’s mission, but can also be extended to with (i.e., It is important that you vote today! You can learn more about include communities who are likely to support your issue. what is on the ballot by visiting your Board of Election website.) • The purpose of your activities is to encourage this audience to vote. Identify Current Supporters Step 4 Conduct GOTV Outreach Activities in • Who do you know that already supports your issue broadly? Step 9 Advance of Election Day • Utilize contact information collected by your organization during • Now that you have your target audience, messages, materials, and other events, and contact these individuals. activities planned, it is time to conduct the activities to encourage • Use your audience to reach out to volunteer and/or participate in the registration or early voting. GOTV drive. • If you are holding an event, advertise this event through flyers, Step 5 Determine GOTV Drive Logistics posters, web, and social media. Continue Relevant GOTV Outreach • What date(s) will you conduct GOTV? Step 10 • What outreach activities will you use during your GOTV drive Activities (door-to-door, mailings, voter registration event, phone banks, etc.)? Using any contact information collected before or during the drive, • Are there other organizations you can partner with? organize phone banking and/or door-to-door activities to encourage • What resources do you have to support your GOTV outreach? voters to go to the polls on election day. Step 6 Recruit Volunteers • Ask your internal staff, friends, and family members to volunteer in your GOTV activities. • Conduct outreach and recruit volunteers from your supporter list participate in GOTV activities (i.e., phone banking, door-to-door outreach, etc.). Guide to Developing a Successful Get Out The Vote Program for 501(c)(3)s © Copyright 2015 by Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC. Visit www.advocacyandcommunication.org or email [email protected] for more information. 3 Supporting Documents 5 weeks At least Steps 1–5 A Timeline to before the election Guide GOTV Planning 4 weeks At least Steps 7–8 Activities before the election 3 weeks Step 9 (Note: These activities can happen before the election at any time during election season.) Election Day Step 10 Guide to Planning GOTV Activities On and Before Election Day Nonprofits are well-positioned to leverage their position in the community, their leadership, staff, volunteers, clients, and supporters to promote nonpartisan voting and related activities before and on Election Day. Below is a chart that outlines many of the options available. The bolded activities in the chart are then further explained in more detail below. GOTV Activities for Nonprofits Before Election Day On Election Day Allow staff to engage in nonpartisan GOTV activities (like those on this list!). 4 4 Allow staff time off to vote. 4 Encourage staff to sign up as poll workers or translators on Election Day. 4 Provide rides to the polls or promote organizations that do provide rides. 4 Hold a GOTV party or event that outlines these activities and how people can get involved. 4 Determine what organizations are holding “phone banks” (where volunteers call registered voters 4 and remind them to vote) and volunteer, or host your own phone bank. Leverage your organization’s existing communication vehicles to remind people to vote via 4 4 emails, newsletters, and social media. Ask the local Board of Elections for a voter list for your community and cross check that with your 4 volunteer or membership lists so you can understand who is not registered to vote. Leverage your organization’s existing meetings to remind people to vote. 4 Create visibility about Election Day via posters in your offices. 4 Share telephone or website information for nonpartisan voter information (i.e., where do I vote, 4 when do the polls open or close?). Canvass neighborhoods and give out nonpartisan voter information (i.e., where do I vote, how 4 do I vote, when do I vote?). Guide to Developing a Successful Get Out The Vote Program for 501(c)(3)s © Copyright 2015 by Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC. Visit www.advocacyandcommunication.org or email [email protected] for more information. 4 Supporting Documents How To… Provide rides to the polls Helping people get to the polls is