Iowa Federation of Labor “Working Together for All Iowans” RUNNING FOR LOCAL

ELECTED OFFICES

WIN is a program of the Iowa Federation of Labor working with labor councils and our community allies 2017-2018 1

WORKING IOWA NEIGHBORS in your neighborhood

We hope you will find the information in this booklet useful as you think about running for local office. It was created by the Iowa Federation of Labor for potential candidates working with a Working Iowa Neighbors (WIN) Committee. “The WIN Committee has been essential in The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFLCIO, established the WIN Program in 2011 to the progressive help make working families a priority for local and state elected officials. gains made in In the aftermath of the 2010 Election, members of the Iowa legislature went after Johnson County. education funding so they could instead hand out corporate property tax cuts and These natural allies other tax giveaways to large profitable businesses. In subsequent years, we have were always there, seen these attacks increase and the state’s budget suffer. This past legislative but we didn’t really session, some members declared war on working families, passing legislation that coordinate until the rolls back decades of progress. WIN Committee started meeting.” Workers, however, can come together to fight back against these attacks. WIN Rod Sullivan, Committees have already been established in several locations around the state, Johnson County and new ones are forming. WIN Committees focus on local elections such as city Supervisor council, school board, and college trustee elections in odd years and county races in even years. WIN also works together to build a “farm team” of experienced “Working with WIN candidates ready to run for higher office when the opportunity or need presents helped me connect itself. Below is a list of places where WIN Committees are already active. Let us with others who care know if you want to set up a WIN Committee in your area. about working families and better Contact Ben Murry ([email protected]) for information on Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Ft. understand how Dodge, Mason City, and Waterloo. important local Contact Tracy Leone ([email protected]) for information on Burlington, Clinton, Davenport, elections can be.” Dubuque, Iowa City, Lee County, and Muscatine. Maria Dickmann,

Burlington: 2nd Monday of each month @ 6PM at IAM Iowa City: 3rd Tuesday of each month @ 6PM at the 1010 Hall: 16282 Highway 34, West Burlington. Iowa City Fed Hall: 940 S. Gilbert Court, Iowa City

Cedar Rapids: 4th Monday of each month @ 6PM at Lee County: 4th Tuesday of each month @ 6PM at IBEW 405 Hall: 1211 Wiley Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids Keokuk Labor Temple: 301 Blondeau, Keokuk

Clinton: 4th Monday of each month @ 6PM various Mason City: 4th Thursday of each month @ 6PM at locations North Iowa 9 Labor Temple: 510 S. Pennsylvania, Mason City (starting July/August 2017) Council Bluffs: @ IAFF 15 Hall: 1827 S. 8th Street, Council Bluffs / Dates & Times Vary Muscatine: 1st Tuesday of each month @ 6PM. Locations vary Davenport: 2nd Tuesday of each month @ 6PM at UFCW 431 Hall: 2411 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport Sioux City: 1st Monday of each month @ 6PM at UFCW 222: 3038 S. Lakeport, Sioux City Dubuque: 3rd Thursday of each month @ 6PM at ISEA Dubuque Regional Office: 3430 Dodge St. (lover level) Waterloo: 4th Wednesday of each month @ 6PM at UAW 838 Hall: 2615 Washington St., Waterloo Ft. Dodge: 1st Tuesday of each month @ UFCW 6 Hall: 15 N. 12th Street, Fort Dodge (starting July 2017)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CANDIDATE ASSESMENT ...... 4-5

YOU’VE DECIDED TO RUN, NOW WHAT? ...... 6-7

TARGETING ...... 8

IDENTIFYING VOTERS ...... 9

EARLY VOTERS ...... 10

MESSAGE DEVELOPMENT ...... 10

COMMUNICATIONS ...... 11

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT ...... 12

ENDORSEMENTS ...... 12

FUNDRAISING ...... 13-15

STEP BY STEP EVENT PLANNING ...... 16-17

TYPES OF ELECTIONS ...... 18-20

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ...... 20

AM I ELIGIBLE TO RUN? ...... 21

CAN I GET WORK LEAVE TO SERVE? ...... 21

NOMINATING PETITIONS FAQS ...... 22-23

FILING DEADLINES ...... 24

NEW VOTER ID LAW ...... 25

GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS ...... 26-34

IMPORTANT LINKS AND CONTACTS ...... 35

CONTACT US ...... 36

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STEP 1: CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT

SHOULD I RUN FOR OFFICE?

There are many reasons to run for local political office. Some run because they want to contribute to their community. Others are dissatisfied with the incumbent. Some choose to run because of a single burning issue. Still others are recruited by friends and neighbors. Before making such a big commitment, answering the following questions

can help decide if running is the right decision for you.

PERSONAL STRENGTHS AND Are you financially secure enough to take time

WEAKNESSES away from your job?

Does your immediate family understand that Would you be willing to accept sometimes running for an elected office means you will be stinging criticism regarding the way you look, the spending many hours away from home? way you dress, and the way you talk?

Do you have anything in your personal Have you voted in the past? If you are running for background (public records, credit reports, school board have you voted in these elections in financial obligations, business or employment the past? experience, etc.) that you would not want to be made public? Can you spend hours on the telephone begging

friends for money? Do you have the physical stamina to go long

hours with little sleep, often eating on the run, and Are you capable of developing two or three having your only exercise be walking door-to-door minute talks, summarizing your life experience, visiting voters at their home? your viewpoint on the major issues, and why you

feel you are qualified for the office you are Are you willing to be interviewed at length by seeking? probing reporters who will ask questions you don’t want to be asked, and then find the quotes they How would you accept victory? Or defeat? use are not what you wanted to say?

MONEY THE OPPOSITION

How much money can you, your family, your How many opponents are there likely to be? closest friends, and your key supporters contribute to the campaign? Is the opponent an incumbent?

What are additional potential sources of individual What are the personal/political strengths and contributions? weaknesses of your opponents?

What organizations make political contributions, Have your opponents run before? What were and which are likely to contribute to your their campaign tactics? What were the results of campaign? their last election?

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POLITICAL TRADITION

What campaign activities are traditional or are expected by the electorate?

What amount of money has been spent by both winning and losing candidates for this office in previous elections?

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

What are the applicable election laws, including eligibility and filing requirements, finance laws, legal deadlines, and dates? (i.e. school employees earning over OPINION INFLUENCERS $2500/year are not eligible to serve on the What local issues have provoked debate or citizen reaction related school board that to this particular office? employs them. What other races or issues will be on the ballot? THE OFFICE Who are the key decision makers in the community, elected or Does this office hold the otherwise? potential to influence the kinds of changes that you What are the influential organizations? want to see?

What kind of time What are the prevailing community media outlets? commitment will be necessary if you are elected? OTHER CONCERNS

TIME What is your relationship to your community— length of residence, How many days are left association with community leaders, and friends from a cross until election day? section of the community?

How many doors can you With what political issues or concerns are you identified? knock before election day? Can you speak audibly, concisely, and authoritatively in a public setting? How much time will you have for the campaign? Can you attract an appropriate number of volunteers and contributors? How much time can your core supporters give? Can you deal with today’s opponents in a way that will allow them to be allies tomorrow?

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STEP 2: YOU’VE DECIDED TO RUN... FORM AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE

The first thing a prospective candidates may do to gauge the support for their campaign is to host a small gathering in their home to pitch the idea and see what kind of support might be available. When planning this meeting:

INVITE THE RIGHT PEOPLE It is very important to get the right people at this meeting. Do not simply invite your friends. Invite people who will be critical of the idea. Make sure that someone present has been involved with a campaign before. LISTEN If they want you to run, the people at your exploratory committee meeting should ask you very tough questions, be very impressed with your answers, and express their enthusiasm about your campaign without hesitation. As the prospective candidate, be careful not to convince yourself that you hear things that are not said. Ask someone you trust if they are hearing the same things you are. The people who come to the meeting care enough about you to give a little of their time. They don’t want to hurt your feelings. So when they voice concerns, assume that their reservations are even bigger than what they say. Listen for hesitation and doubt in people’s voices. What they might want to say is that they don’t think you should run. ASK THE QUESTION Before they leave, ask people if they think you should run. Ask for a “yes” or “no” answer. Also, ask if they are willing to make a significant commitment (volunteering or contributing money or both) to your campaign. Only about half of the people that commit to something will actually deliver on their promise. This is true for your close friends and advisors, too. Things happen in people’s lives, and people you are counting on will drop off the campaign. Make sure you aren’t relying on too few people to get this big

job done. WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO DIDN’T ATTEND? If someone you invited does not come to the meeting, it’s likely they don’t think your candidacy is worth their time. However, don’t assume that if people come they do support you. Good attendance at an exploratory committee meeting is not the same as support.

THE CAMPAIGN PLAN Writing a campaign plan is one of the most important aspects of a campaign. Your plan is your road map for winning There is never enough time or money to do everything in your campaign, so remember, it is better to do one thing well rather than several things poorly. Your plan must reflect the Who-What-When-Where-Why-How for everything. This includes having a timeline of all events leading up to Election Day. Any good campaign plan must also include a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) plan. If you’ve never written a campaign plan before, Wellstone Action has a sample plan available for download here: http://www.wellstone.org/resources/sample-campaign-plan

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...NOW WHAT? THE CAMPAIGN STRUCTURE

The size of your campaign will determine what kind of structure you will need. Typically, the larger the voting constituency is, the more campaign roles will need to be filled. But generally speaking, any effective campaign from school board on up needs to have a manager, a treasurer, and a campaign committee. More high profile races will require you to fill the other roles. As always, seek advice from those who have done this before to best understand what your needs will be for your race.

Campaign Committee

This is what your exploratory committee will eventually become. An advisory committee is a low-profile group of people with experience running campaigns. They are the ones who decide on direction and strategy.

Treasurer

Campaign Manager Campaign Chair The Treasurer of the Being a candidate is a full-time job, so campaign is This is basically the you need a manager to coordinate responsible for Chairperson of the everything from raising funds to making sure that Advisory Committee. defining issues to organizing campaign finance This should be a fairly volunteers. Campaign managers work reports are filed well-known person, but well under pressure, know how to correctly and on time also someone who will delegate responsibility, stay focused and is legally put in significant work on the goal in the face of multiple responsible for any on the campaign, distractions, and have had previous financial irregularities. particularly in political experience. networking. Once you have a manager, your job is to focus your energy on these things: Scheduler 1. Sound and look good Volunteer 2. Stay on message If you ever run in a 3. Raise money state wide race, you Coordinator 4. Obtain votes will need someone to handle all the This person recruits and requests you get to coordinates volunteers appear at events. to do phone calls, door The scheduler is the knocking, and literature one who determines dropping. The Steering Committee which events are coordinator makes sure Some campaigns have a “Steering worth going to and enough volunteers Committee,” which is really a list of arranges for a show up for each high-profile endorsers. Make sure that trustworthy volunteer activity to reach the they are involved in hosting to drive and contact goals being set. fundraisers for you and helping to accompany you to make fundraising calls. events.

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STEP 3: TARGETING People will tell you that you will win your race on one issue, or with the support of one person, one constituency, or neighborhood. The reality is the only thing that will win the race is to receive more votes than your opponent. You will need the following information to strategically target your voters and find out your win number. You can get lists from your County Auditor, though some may charge a small fee. If you are active with a political party, and you have their support, you can also ask what it would cost to access their database (Democrats use NPG VAN. Republicans use GOP Data Center).

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE: In addition to finding the number of people registered to vote in the district, look at the trend in this number over the last eight years. For a more accurate estimate, look at the trend in the number of residents eligible to vote and the trend in the percentage of those who are registered to vote.

PERCENTAGE OF REGISTERED VOTERS EXPECTED TO TURN OUT: To estimate this number, again look at historical data. Make sure you are comparing your race with a comparable election year (Presidential versus Congressional or contested versus non-contested election). Also consider less obvious factors, such as the number of candidates in the race and whether there are any hot issues on the ballot that could motivate more voters to go to the polls.

PERCENTAGE OF VOTES NEEDED TO WIN THE ELECTION: In a two-way race, this is a pretty easy formula—half the votes plus one (aim for 53-54% to be safe). However, some elections may involve multiple seats on a board (school boards, for example) or have more than two candidates in the race. Look at past races that are similar to yours in the number of candidates and the number of seats up for election.

VOTES BY PRECINCT: You will want to have targets for every ward and precinct in your district. To estimate these, find a candidate who has run within the past four to six years who has views similar to yours. It does not matter if the candidate won or lost, but it helps if they didn’t finish a distant last. If you can’t find a comparable candidate, you can identify ballot question results that are aligned with your personal philosophy (tax measures, environmental protection initiatives, school bonds, etc.). For your comparison candidate or question, calculate what percentage of the vote total came from each precinct. Then, take these percentages and apply them to your overall vote goal to determine your goals for each precinct.

BANKING VOTES: As you call or visit your targeted voters, always ask, “Can I count on your vote?”. Record their answers by assigning numbers to names:

1 = YES 2 = NO 3 = UNDECIDED

The purpose of a campaign is not only to identify enough voters to win the election, but to turn these people out on Election Day. Your GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Plan gets your list of supporters to the polls on Election Day or earlier (see Early and Absente Voting).

In summary, the number of votes you will need is the number of registered voters, times the percentage turnout expected, times the percentage you need to win, plus a few extra percentage points just to be safe. You should identify about 125%-130% of the #1s you need, because as many as 30% of people who identify as likely supporters may not vote for various reasons. As the election gets closer, factors will change. You may need to revisit these numbers periodically over the campaign.

Do not spend time contacting people who never vote. They likelihood of them turning out for you is slim, especially in local races where overall turnout can be in the single digits. Your lists should contain the names of voters who have voted in one, two, or three out of the last three elections. Prioritize contacting the 3/3s first, the 2/3s next, and the 1/3s last.

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STEP 4: IDENTIFYING YOUR VOTERS

Never assume people will vote for you simply because they know you or share your party ID. Unless you actually ask them for their support and they answer “yes” you cannot bank those voters. There are three main ways to start adding people to your list of “1’s”:  Phone Banking: Introduce yourself and your campaign, and before you hang up, ask them if you can count on their support on Election Day. Don’t ask more than three questions in a phone call.  Door Knocking: First impressions can be long lasting, and remember, you are asking them to take time out of their busy day and give it to you, so be respectful. Always bring your campaign literature, voter registration, and vote by mail forms.  Word of Mouth: Ask your supporters to each find you ten more “yes” votes

Time Management Your campaign needs to prioritize lists by first contacting those who regularly vote in the election for which you are running. After your team’s first pass through this universe, you can begin persuading undecided voters to support you (see tips below). Once you’ve done a second pass through your universe of undecideds, your team can spend time on new voters or sporadic voters. You can save time and money if you household voters together for one contact. How To Persuade Voters Some voters will tell you they need to learn about the other candidates on the ballot before committing. Others want to talk to friends, wait for their union’s endorsement, or hear from other “influencers” before deciding. Some voters will tell you they are undecided when in fact they are supporting your opponent or not committed to voting. Contacting voters a second or third time will help you make your case for why they should vote for you.

1. Do a direct mailing of persuasion pieces, postcards or literature designed to sway them your way. Print an excess of these so you can also leave it on their doorsteps when you are canvassing. Never put campaign literature in their mailboxes. That is illegal.

2. Make a personal visit from the candidate. The ratio of “yes” voters generated by the candidate versus volunteers is about 5 to 1. Voters are impressed that someone running for office actually took the time to visit them at their home and ask for their vote. Try to only spend between 3-4 minutes per door, but be respectful of the voters. If you look rushed, they might interpret that as meaning you don’t care about their issues. Door knocking is very time intensive, so you shouldn’t spend it by contacting voters you have already identified as 1’s or 2’s.

3. Paid and unpaid media can be used to persuade voters your way, but you have much less control over the message and who receives it this way. It is also very expensive. Your decision on using commercial media will depend on your budget.

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STEP 5: EARLY VOTERS Voting by absentee ballot, also described as voting early or vote by mail, has become a popular way of voting. Sporadic voters, college students, and the elderly are prime targets for absentee voting, but anyone can vote early without needing an excuse. An early vote program needs a lot of volunteers in order to succeed since you not only need to collect the requests, you also need to do a ballot chase to ensure the ballots are returned to the auditor.

1. Always offer an absentee ballot request to those voters you have identified as #1s. 2. For primary and general elections, the county auditor starts mailing absentee ballots 40* days before the election. Check with your auditor for other elections. 3. Check regularly with the county auditor’s office to get a list of those who have been mailed ballots and follow up with the voters with a personal phone call or a mailing.

These days, anyone thinking of running for office in Iowa must have a plan for early voting. Running a robust early vote campaign shrinks the universe you will need to get out to vote on Election Day and helps to increase overall turnout. Early voting has become so integral to Iowa elections, that there have been many elections lost on Election Day, only to be won once the absentee ballots are counted.

STEP 6: MESSAGE DEVELOPMENT

There are a few hard truths in campaigns, and one of them is that people only have so much attention for what you have to say. People are busy with their personal lives, so you want to make sure they remember you and what you stand for. Therefore, you have to be able to communicate why they should vote for you in just a few words.

Your message should differentiate you from your opponents in a meaningful way. If it is an open seat, then explain why you are the best candidate on the ballot. Unseating an incumbent is much more challenging, so if you are running in a seat held by an incumbent running for re-election, your job becomes two-fold: why they should not vote for the incumbent, and why they should vote for you.

Other thoughts to consider when developing your campaign’s overall theme and message:

• What are the key issues affecting your community? To find these, read the local newspaper, listen to local talk shows, and talk to your colleagues and neighbors. • Do the issues you care about coincide with those of the community? You will only be successful those issues are aligned. • Listening is just as important as talking to many voters. What your constituents are saying will help you craft your own message. After all, you are running to represent them and their concerns.

Decide on three main issues upon which you will base your campaign, but also craft talking points on any number of other issues that concern your constituents. While you should be able to discuss relevant issues intelligently and in detail, you should also be able to discuss them briefly.

You should have pitches ready in 30-second, 3-minute, and 10-minute versions. You should get used to the idea of saying the same thing over and over and over again, making it sound fresh each time.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Stay on message no matter what you are asked.

*Iowa overhauled its voting laws in 2017, reducing the early vote period from 40 to 29 days. Changes take effect in 2017 and 2018. See page 25 for more details.

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STEP 7: COMMUNICATIONS

PAID MEDIA You typically have to be a candidate for higher office before buying ads. But even on a slim budget, there are some inexpensive options such as Facebook boosts or ads. No matter the race, all candidates should have a good campaign literature piece (aka “cowboy card”) to give to voters. These typically include a headshot, bullet points that list your key issues, a short bio, and contact information for the campaign. If you have the budget and dedicated volunteers, yard signs are an effective way to increase name recognition. Make sure to collect your signs as soon as possible after the election. This is a courtesy to supporters. And if you win, you would want to recycle these signs for the next cycle.

You may be tempted to buy a newspaper or radio ad, but remember that dollar for dollar, you will usually get more bang for your buck doing direct mail. All forms of paid media become less effective for elections in even-number years when our media and mailboxes are inundated with ads and mailers from presidential or congressional races. But if you are running in an odd-numbered year, direct mail is probably the best use of limited campaign funds.

A union bug is a label, mark, or emblem that signifies that the BUG YOUR employees who make a product are represented by a labor union. It is very important to support union printers for your campaign materials since this demonstrates that you are aware about unions and care about workers. For a list of union printers in Iowa, visit the Iowa Federation of Labor’s Pinterest page: LITERATURE! https://www.pinterest.com/iowafed/

EARNED MEDIA This is the name for any attention you get in the press that you didn’t pay for. Examples include:

Press Conferences: When you announce your bid for election, get a handful of supporters together (and their children if it is a school board race), invite the media and communicate your platform. You can also hold press conferences later if something notable happens in the district that highlights a key issue from your platform. This demonstrates your leadership and gets your name and hopefully your picture in the newspaper or TV.

Letters to the Editor (LTE): LTEs are a great way to create buzz around your campaign. Work with your supporters to space these out throughout the campaign and especially as you near Election Day. Some papers exclude candidates’ LTEs in the week prior to an election. If you have support from leaders in the community who carry name recognition, ask them to write a letter. You can also ask organizations or groups of leaders to sign off on a joint letter of support.

Attend Public Forums: Even if it’s only a photo of you in the background, the public will see you as a concerned citizen and a leader when you appear at these events. Candidate forums, grand openings, charity and fundraising events, forums on issues of public concern, city council meetings, parades, and county fairs are a few examples. If no one is holding a candidate forum, work with coalition partners to schedule one.

SOCIAL MEDIA Used properly, Twitter, Facebook, and other forms of social media can be an important tool because they are an unobtrusive form of communication since people “opt-in” to follow you. They are public, and whatever you put there will stay for all of posterity to ponder. So if you already have accounts set up, review them to see if there is anything that does not reflect the image you want to portray. Some candidates suspend their private account and open a campaign account during their initial election.

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STEP 8: VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.” Sherry Anderson

ASK • It is just that simple...ask. • Use your personal contacts to get your first volunteers. • Then ask each of your volunteers to recruit others to help. • Notify student organizations, especially political science departments. • Use your membership in local associations to get the word out and attract more volunteers. • Contact your local political party for names of people who have volunteered on past campaigns.

CONNECT • People volunteer for a reason—they come back because they were satisfied. • Keep your volunteers busy while at your office. If they are bored, they might not come back.

SPECIFY • Ask people to help for specific tasks, times, and locations, and keep the amount of time reasonable, “Can you help make phone calls from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday?”

ACCOUNTABILITY • Make sure you hold yourself and volunteers accountable for meeting commitments.

THE 50 % RULE, AKA “FLAKE RATE”: Volunteers are not paid, so they are not as likely to follow through on their commitments because of other things in their life taking precedence.

• Expect to lose half of your volunteers per night. • Always recruit twice as many volunteers as you need to perform a given task. • Phoning volunteers the night before helps your turnout, but still expect only half. • Email reminders are good, but phone calls are better.

RECOGNIZE volunteers during the campaign and THANK them, immediately, personally, and again in writing, no matter the results of the election.

STEP 9: ENDORSEMENTS Endorsements bring support, funding, volunteers, as well as votes to a campaign. In order to be a Working Iowa Neighbors (WIN) candidate for local office, you must receive the endorsement from the Labor Council or Labor Chapter having jurisdiction for the office being sought. The endorsement must follow all rules governing the Committee on Political Education (COPE) of the national AFL-CIO.

International and local unions may also make endorsements. If you are endorsed by the Labor Council, they can give you guidance on how to reach out to local unions. For school board races, also reach out to the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) in your area. If they don’t make endorsements, ask if they will let you speak to their members at one of their meetings.

You can also seek support or endorsements from interest groups like the NAACP, LULAC, and AAUW. Depending on their tax status or policies, they may not make make endorsements. It is still worthwhile to meet their members, discuss your issues, and listen to their concerns.

If your local newspaper makes endorsements, do your best to prepare for your meeting with the editorial board by understanding the key issues in your race and articulating your vision. Not getting endorsed by the local paper won’t necessarily stop your chances of winning, but in a close race, it may influence an undecided voter’s decision.

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STEP 10: FUNDRAISING

The Most Effective Fundraiser is You

The best way to raise money is for the candidate to personally make phone calls. If you are asking for a large donation, a personal visit might be even more appropriate. Personal solicitations like these raise the most money at the least cost.

Another way to raise funds while also building support, visibility, and getting people excited about your campaign is to hold a fundraiser. While this involves the expense of food/drinks and the cost of flyers or a mailing, fundraisers can be an excellent idea to launch the campaign (make sure to send out a press release), recognize volunteers for their ongoing support, and build your campaign momentum.

Basics of Fundraising

1) Ask people to donate. Don’t assume they will volunteer to donate on their own. 2) Ask as many people as possible...as many times as possible...for as much money as possible. 3) Always ask for a specific amount, “Can you donate $500 for my election?”. 4) Some donors want to know exactly what their donation will do, “Your donation will help me do one more mailing to get out the vote”, or, “I plan to use your donation to buy x amount of yard signs”. 5) It takes as much time and effort to ask for $10 as it does for $100. 6) You are never given more money than you ask for. 7) Don’t assume that someone won’t contribute until you’ve asked. 8) Provide an urgent deadline, “I need to get to the printer next week for my first mailing”. 9) Send a confirmation letter/email to the donor right after the call stating the amount of the pledge and including an addressed envelope or guidance for returning the check or donating online. 10) Political Action Committee (PAC) donors are required to report their donations and will need to know your PAC number. 11) Send a thank you note, preferably handwritten, once the check is received.

How Much Money Do I Need To Raise?

How much money you need depends on the race. While money is important for local races, relationships and networks matter even more. You can make a rough estimate by going to Iowa Ethics and looking at what past candidates have spent. Usually, the suggestion is $1 to $2 per voter in your district for local contests. Voter contact is key and should be 65-75% of your budget. You should put together a more detailed budget as soon as possible, using real estimates of costs from vendors. Set a realistic fundraising goal and meet it.

You must report your spending and fundraising

Within ten (10) days of raising or spending $1,000—even if it’s your own money—Iowa State Law requires you to open a Political Action Committee (PAC) and report all money raised and spent to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. You will need to open a campaign bank account to get a PAC ID. Some bank require an EIN, others accept your Social Security number. You must report the name and address of anyone donating $25 or more. Please refer to Iowa Ethics for the most up to date rules governing campaign spending and disclosure. (515) 281-4028 or http://www.iowa.gov/ethics/

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Successful Fundraising Phone Calls

• Maximize your time. Always call the people who can give you the most money first.

• Know who you are calling and how to pronounce their names. If the person represents a group, know their major concerns or issues.

• Know what you want to say. Have a sample script with bullet points and practice it.

• Smile into the phone. Be upbeat! People don’t want to contribute to losing causes or to unhappy people.

• Do not give people excuses for not contributing. Don’t say “I know times are tough,” or, “I know you probably can’t contribute this much”. This lets them off the hook.

• Be specific. Ask for an exact amount and a date you can expect the check.

• Immediately after asking for a contribution, STOP. Let them answer even if it takes several seconds.

• It is best to make fundraising calls with your campaign manager/staff who can help keep you on task.

• While cash may be king, some organizations may want to give you an in-kind donation instead. For instance, a union may want to buy your yard signs for you because they want to tell their members exactly what their donations will buy. While cash donations give you more flexibility to spend strategically, do not refuse an in-kind donation.

Fundraising Team

Everyone is more likely to give if they are asked personally by a friend. Because you only know so many people, a fundraising team broadens the number of people who can be asked on a personal level.

Good individuals for your fundraising team are those who believe deeply in the campaign, who have an extensive contact network, particularly one that doesn’t overlap substantially with yours, and who are likely to do what they say they’ll do.

Remember, as high as 30%-50% of the people who make pledges to you and your fundraising team will also not come through, so plan accordingly. It’s the job of the fundraising team to secure the pledge of a contribution, and the job of the campaign to follow up on it.

Remember a Pledge Can’t Be Spent...Until The Check Arrives!

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WAYS TO FUNDRAISE

House Parties

House parties are small events hosted by campaign supporters who invite people from their own networks to meet the candidate. After the candidate has given a very brief speech and answered questions, the host of the party may ask for donations and volunteers for the campaign.

House parties are very time intensive because the campaign has to follow up very closely with people who agree to host house parties. But, at least the cost of food and invitations is usually borne by the host. Hosting a house party is a good way for someone who is not ready to commit to the fundraising team to help with the fundraising. House parties also can create positive voter ID’s, identify new volunteers, and create lists of names for future larger donations.

Fundraising Direct Mail

Direct mail is used most often by large campaigns, which use professional mail houses to mail lists of prospective donors. On smaller campaigns, however, you can still use mail to fundraise. You might start by sending a fundraising letter to your friends and family to “launch” your campaign. You should also periodically send fundraising solicitations to people on your own campaign list of volunteers, supporters, and identified “yes” voters. Fundraising letters are more effective if followed up in a timely manner with a phone call. This is especially true if you are raising funds from people you do not already know.

Online

Modern campaigns are using online platforms that allow donors to contribute at the press of a button. They can be linked to your web page and social media accounts and included in email solicitations. Since they are digital, you are also collecting valuable data about the donors. The money is also immediately available (no waiting for checks to clear). Be aware, though, that online fundraising comes at a cost, with platform and processing fees as high as 10% of the donation. Events

Large events, such as golf outings, hardly make any money for the effort, but since they’re so visible, people think of them as the primary fundraising mechanism. Events can easily lose more money than they make. However, events can serve other useful purposes like celebrating meeting your fundraising goal, announcing new endorsements, or getting earned media and free publicity.

Events like these should be farmed out to a highly trusted volunteer to avoid taking up too much of the campaign’s focus. If an event looks like it’s going to bomb, it’s better to cancel (“postpone”). It looks worse to have a poorly attended event than to reschedule one.

15

STEP BY STEP EVENT PLANNING

Pick a Date While it is impossible to find a date when nothing else is happening, do make an effort to avoid scheduling it when other important events are taking place. Check school and sporting calendars, find out when other campaigns are holding events, and remember, if you want to generate press, earlier in the week is way better for coverage than later in the week or on weekends. Find a Location Find a Place with no or low overhead. Avoid renting! Reach out to locally owned businesses, many of which may like the extra customers an event can bring them. You may find new supporters that way or learn about issues of concern for smaller business owners. Other free or inexpensive locations include union halls, VFWs/American Legions, community centers, and park shelters. Pick a location that will maximize turnout. If you plan to hold multiple fundraisers, move the location around.

• Hold it near your home in your district, where you know the most people.

• You can do it in the center of your district so no one has to drive far.

• If you live in a large district, hold the event in the largest city of your district where most people are familiar and can easily find it.

• A home of a supporter or friend will save you prep and clean up time.

• If you intend to have a small event where you can speak to all attendees, do it in a café or diner.

Plan the Type of Event

• Keep your expenses down. The D in Fundraiser stands for DOLLARS. Have fun but don’t waste your time planning expensive events that do not result in real money being raised.

• Provide food that is inexpensive, like hot dogs, not prime rib. Get people to help by donating food.

• Do not pay for free alcoholic drinks. They are expensive & people can buy their own. Develop Your Invitation List

• Mail to people you know, as they are most likely to attend.

• Party activists should be invited, but you must reach beyond the base.

• Always invite union supporters as many prefer to deliver their PAC checks in person. Mail Invitations about 2 1/2 Weeks Before the Event

• Invitations should arrive about two weeks before the event. True for email as well as regular mail.

• Invitations can be a simple flyer.

• You may also include a short letter outlining the needs of your campaign and how you will use their money (mailings, printing, etc.).

• Include a reply card or a form at the bottom of the flyer to be returned whether they attend the even or not. If fundraising online, include the link.

• Include a small return envelope that is pre-addressed but not pre-stamped.

• Follow up by calling everyone on your list before the event. Use volunteers for this.

• Most Importantly: send thank you notes.

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WHO TO INVITE?

Friends & Family

Immediate and extended family, co-workers, friends from high school and college, friends from your social networks (church, bowling, Kiwanis, sports leagues, PTA).

Political Activists

Central Committee members, other elected officials, activists, labor supporters. These are the ones who can give you ideas of who else to talk to for money.

Business & Community Leaders

Lawyers, local business owners, community volunteers. They may not have been political contributors in the past, so you may need to spend some time with them. They care about their schools and communities and will be helpful in bringing others on board if you turn them into supporters.

Donor Research Networks

Online research can lead you to possible donors. Check out Iowa Ethics (www.iowa.gov/ethics), the Federal Ethics Commission (www.fed.gov/), and Open Secrets (www.opensecrets.org/index.php). Chart Out Your Fundraising Goals 5 People Who Can Give $1,000 5 People Who Can Give $500 1. ______1. ______

2. ______2. ______3. ______3. ______4. ______4. ______5.______5.______Total $5,000 Total $2,500

10 People Who Can Give $250 10 People Who Can Give $100 1. ______1. ______2. ______2. ______3. ______3. ______4. ______4. ______5. ______5. ______6. ______6. ______7. ______7. ______8. ______8. ______9. ______9. ______10. ______10. ______Total $2,500 Total $1,000

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TYPES OF ELECTIONS ELECTIONS HELD IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS

School Elections School elections are held on the second Tuesday in September of each odd-numbered year. School elections are held in each school district to elect officers of the district, to elect trustees for the local community college board, and to vote on public measures involving school districts. All school elections in Iowa are non-partisan.

City Elections

All cities conduct a regular city election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years to elect officers and vote on municipal public measures. All city elections in Iowa are non-partisan.

City Primary Elections

Most cities do not have primary election provisions. Cities that do have primary election provisions only have a primary election if more than two candidates are running to fill any seat. The top two vote-getters will face off in the regular city election. If a city primary election is held, it occurs exactly four weeks before the regular city election.

Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote in a city primary election.

City Runoff Elections

City runoff elections may only be held in cities that have adopted, by ordinance, a provision to hold a runoff election. A city runoff election occurs when no candidate receives a majority of votes at the regular city election or when a write-in winner at the regular city election refuses the office. If a city runoff election is held, it occurs exactly four weeks after the regular city election.

ELECTIONS HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Special Elections

Special elections are held for two reasons: 1. To fill vacant offices 2. To vote on public measures (ballot questions like bonding issues)

Special elections to fill vacancies can be held on any Tuesday, but the dates on which counties, cities, and school districts may hold special elections for public measures are restricted.

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ELECTIONS HELD IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS

General Election

The General Election is held for the selection of:

Federal & Statewide Offices (President/VP, Governor/Lt. Governor, etc.)

Members of Congress (U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative)

Iowa General Assembly (State Senator, State Representative)

County and Township Offices (Supervisors, Auditor, Sheriff, etc.)

The General Election is held on the same day across the United States—the 1st Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Iowa House are up for re-election every two years. U.S. Senators serve for six years, and Iowa State Senators serve for four years. Their terms are staggered so 1/3 of U.S. Senators are up for re-election every two years, and half of Iowa Senators are up for re-election every two years. In 2018, Iowa Senators who are in odd-numbered districts will be up for re-election, and in 2020, Iowa Senators in even- numbered districts will be up for re-election.

Primary Election

A primary election is held to nominate political party candidates to run for the General Election. Iowa has two major political parties: The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. At the primary election, there is a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot. Candidates from each party run against candidates from the same party to win that party’s nomination. The winners from each party will automatically have their names placed on the General Election ballot.

Voters must declare a party affiliation to participate because Iowa’s Primary Election is a “closed primary”. A closed primary is one in which only voters registered with a party or who declare themselves to be members of the party at the time of voting may vote that party’s ballot (i.e. you must be a registered Democrat or declare yourself to be a Democrat at the time of voting in order to vote the Democratic Party’s ballot. Likewise for the Republican Party’s ballot.) Voters can only receive the ballot for one party.

Voters may change their political party affiliation anytime before Election Day or at the polling place on Election Day.

The Primary Election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June in even- numbered years.

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BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

Boards and commissions are regulatory or advisory groups that work with cities and counties. Regulatory groups set licensing standards and professional requirements for members. Advisory groups provide guidance to the program or agency with which they are affiliated. Board and commission members are usually unpaid volunteers.

Some boards and commissions are elected, while others are appointed, depending on the city. The best way to find out is to contact your city or county offices. Information may also be on their websites.

Serving on a board or commission can help to open future leadership possibilities, including election to higher office. If you are not ready to run for elected office, getting appointed to a board or commission is an excellent way to learn about policy.

Examples of Boards and Commissions:

Access Advisory Board Human Rights Commission Airport Board Library Board of Trustees Appeals Board Neighborhood Revitalization Board Board of Adjustment Parks and Recreation Board Building and Fire Code Board Plan and Zoning Commission Citizen Odor Board Power Engineers Examining Board Civil Service Commission Public Housing Board Conservation Board Sister Cities Commission Correctional Services Board Skywalk Commission Emergency Planning Commission Traffic Safety Committee Health Board Urban Design Review Board Historic Preservation Commission Veterans Affairs Commission Hospital Board of Trustees Water Works Board of Trustees Housing Appeals Board Youth Advisory Board

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AM I ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

A candidate must be an eligible elector and legal resident of the district he or she is seeking to represent, though some races may have other eligibility requirements or prohibitions.

For instance, if you are an employee of a school district, and you earn over $2,500 per year, you can not run for office in that school district.

State code also prohibits city officers from having direct or indirect business interests with a city (though there are exceptions).

Conflicts of Interest code details prohibitions on a public officials taking outside employment or participating in activities that conflict with the person’s official duties and responsibilities. If this is an issue, you may either stop the activity or publicly disclose the conflict and avoid any official action or duty (including participating in a vote before the council) that would benefit the outside employment or activity.

For clarification, please consult with the Iowa League of Cities: 515-244-7282 or Secretary of State’s office: 515-281-5204. CAN I GET WORK LEAVE TO SERVE?

If you are elected to a municipal, county, state, or federal office, you are entitled to an unpaid leave to serve (unless prohibited by federal law. If you are federal employee, please consult the Hatch Act to determine if you are eligible to serve in a particular office (https://osc.gov/Pages/HatchAct-AffectsMe.aspx).

Certain conditions apply. For instance, you must make a written application to your employer requesting the leave, and your employer is required to grant the leave. The leave does not interrupt your credited service for purposes of benefits based on service, but your employer is not obligated to pay pension, health or other benefits during your leave. If your employer has twenty or more full-time employees, you are entitled to

return to regular employment before the expiration of the leave granted.

State merit system employees are prohibited from engaging in political activities during work time and using government property during the leave. Additionally, public employees who are candidates for office may, upon request, be granted a leave during

the 30-day period prior to a contested primary, special or general election.

There may be practical issues in regard to employees who are elected to a part-time office, such as city council or board of supervisors, including whether you must request leave in writing each time you need to be off work or how your benefits will be affected. For current rules, please see Section 55 of Iowa Code or consult the Iowa Legislature

Election Laws: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/electionlaws/ElectionLaws.pdf

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NOMINATING PETITIONS FAQS Where can I get nomination papers? How many signatures do I need?

State: Nomination papers for federal and The number of signatures needed on state offices must be filed with the Secretary nominations papers depends on the office being of State's Office. sought and the number of ballots cast in the last County: Nomination papers for county offices election. Contact the school board secretary to must be filed in the county auditor's office. determine this number, if you are running for City: Nomination papers for city offices are school board. All other offices, contact your filed in the appropriate city clerk's office. county auditor. There is no upper limit on the Township officers are not required to file how many signatures a candidate can collect. nomination petitions. It’s always advisable to get as many as possible School: Nomination papers for school in case any are challenged, and as a first step elections are filed with the school secretary. to collecting information on potential supporters.

Who may sign my nomination petition?

Eligible electors of the appropriate county, district, or ward may sign nomination papers. Any eligible voter in Iowa may sign a petition for statewide office (i.e.—Governor or US Senate) because those races will appear on every ballot in the state. However, for all other races petitions may only be signed by those eligible electors who live in the district being sought. For example, you must live in the ward to sign for city council if it is designated by ward. At-large candidates can seek signatures across the entire city. For school districts, you must live in the district to sign for a school board candidate, unless they are at-large offices. Most county offices are at-large, unless the Board of Supervisors has been divided into districts. Consult your local auditor to clarity what applies in your district.

Samples of petition papers. You may download these from the Iowa Secretary of State at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections 22

Who is an “Eligible Elector”? An eligible elector is a person who meets all the qualifications to register to vote. An eligible elector, however, is not required to be a registered voter. An eligible elector must:

•Be a U.S. citizen & resident of Iowa

•Be at least 17 1/2 yeas old but will turn 18 by Election Day An Eligible elector may not:

•Be a convicted felon (unless the felon’s voting rights have been restored by the President or Governor) Can I sign my own •Be currently judged incompetent to vote by a court nomination petition? •Claim the right to vote in another place Yes. You may sign your own nomination petition if you are When can I start collecting signatures? an eligible elector at the time.

You can begin collecting signatures at any time. However the signers must still be eligible electors when the papers are filed in order for the signatures to count. Do nomination

petitions have to be What information must signer sprovide on the petition? notarized? Those who sign your nomination papers must include: Nomination petitions do not need to be notarized (but your • A signature (the signature may be printed). affidavit of candidacy does). • The address of their residence (house numbers and street name or rural route) Providing a P.O. Box is not sufficient. If an elector is homeless, the elector should describe where they What is an Affidavit of live (spend most of their time, i.e. a shelter) or write “homeless” in the space provided. Candidacy?

• The name of the city where they live Affidavits of candidacy verify

• The date when they signed the petition that you are the intended candidate and not being IMPORTANT NOTE: Signature lines lacking signatures and nominated without your residential addresses cannot be counted. consent. Candidates for all DITTO MARKS: Some petition signer use “ditto” marks when offices must turn in affidavits appropriate (i.e. when the name of a city or the date is the same with their petition papers, and as the previous signer). The use of ditto marks does not invalidate they must be notarized. a signature. The affidavit of candidacy form is also available on the Is there a filing fee for nomination petitions? Secretary of State’s website: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/ There are no candidate filing fees in Iowa. pdf/candidates/affidavit.pdf.

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FILING DEADLINES

Some candidates like to file on the opening day of the filing period to get a head start on their competition. Others wait until the last moment so they may continue to collect signatures and make a statement with the amount of signatures they are able to collect. You may also choose to send out a press release announcing your candidacy on the day you file with the total number of signatures collected as a demonstration of power and popularity. Whatever suits your campaign best strategically, you must observe the filing deadlines exactly. The deadline to file papers or register to vote is 5 p.m. on the date indicated.

STATE OF IOWA ELECTION CALENDAR 2017

Election Election Date Candidate Filing Period Voter Pre-Registration Deadline

School September 12 July 10—August 3 Friday, September 1

August 14—August 31 City October 10 (for cities with primary Friday, September 29 Primary provisions) Regular August 28—September 21 November 7 Friday, October 27 City (for all other cities)

Monday, November 27 City Runoff December 5 N/A Deadline moved to Monday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

2018

Election Election Date Candidate Filing Period Voter Pre-Registration Deadline

State & Federal Offices: February 26—March 16 Primary June 5 Friday, May 25 County Offices: March 5—March 28 State & Federal Offices: July 30—August 17

General November 6 Saturday, October 27 County Offices: August 6—August 29

NOTE: House File 566, passed in the 2017 Legislative Session, consolidates city and school elections to occur on the same date. Likely to be signed by the Governor, it will be effective July 2019.

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VOTER ID BILL

During the 2017 Legislative Session, along party lines the state legislature overhauled what had been Iowa’s very progressive voting laws. The Secretary of State’s office is still providing guidance on the new restrictions in the law, many of which take effect either January 2018 or January 2019. As these become available, we will update this candidate booklet. Until that time, here are some of the changes to Iowa’s voting laws that will affect your campaign:

Shortening the time for early voting from 40 days to 29 days

Previously county auditors would send vote by mail ballots and begin in-person early voting forty days before a general election. When the Voter ID bill takes effect in January 2018, the window for early voting by mail and in—person will be shortened to 29 days. Early and absentee ballot changes will not apply to voters in the military and for people overseas whose rights are still governed under Federal Law by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (see page 34).

Requires voters to present identification to vote

Not all IDs are acceptable. Voters must present a state-approved ID. The bill outlines five forms of ID four of which include a photo. The fifth would be a new voter verification card the state would issue to voters free of charge. Voters who vote by mail will be required to put a four-digit private voter ID number on the vote by mail request form in order to request a ballot be mailed to their home.

No more straight-party voting

Another provision in the bill eliminates the option for voters to check a single box for straight-party line voting.

Minors Voting Rights

In addition to permitting minors to vote in the General Election if they would be 18 years old by the date of a General Election, the new law permits them to vote in Primary Elections if they would be 18 by the date of the Primary Election.

The Voter ID Bill was opposed by the Iowa Federation of Labor and most county auditors. In fact, most organizations in Iowa opposed this bill as it creates barriers to voting for students, seniors, the disabled, and poor and minority groups. The list of groups that registered in opposition to the bill includes the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, the Iowa State Association of Counties, AARP Iowa, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa State Education Association, League of Women Voters of Iowa, League of United Latin American Citizens, Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, One Iowa Education Fund, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund, Iowa Sierra Club. The only organization which registered officially in support was the Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

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GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS

Absentee and Special Voters Precinct Board: The absentee and special voters A precinct board is a group of precinct election officials appointed by the county auditor to consider absentee ballots. After Election Day, the board meets to consider absentee ballots that may have arrived after Election Day and to review provisional and challenged absentee ballots.

Absentee Ballot: An absentee ballot is a ballot that is cast by a voter before Election Day.

Absentee and Early Voting: Before Election Day, Iowa voters may vote by absentee ballot. They may request that an absentee ballot be sent to them through the mail or they can vote by absentee ballot at their county auditor's office or at a satellite voting station. Voters are not required to provide a reason for Absentee or Early Voting.

Administrative Recount: An administrative recount is conducted when the county auditor suspects that voting equipment used in the election malfunctioned or equipment programming errors may have affected the outcome of the election. An administrative recount may also be conducted if the precinct election officials report counting errors to the county auditor after the conclusion of the canvass of votes in the precinct.

Affidavit of Candidacy: An affidavit of candidacy is a form that must be filed by all candidates with the exception of township officers. It is the declaration that someone files when they have decided to become a candidate. It must be filed at the same time as the nomination petitions. It also must be notarized.

At-Large: At-large refers to offices that are elected by the voters of an entire county or district even though the office may only represent one part of the county or district.

Audio Ballot: An audio ballot means the ability of a voting system to read the contents of a ballot to a voter through the use of headphones.

Auditor, County: A county auditor is the county commissioner of elections and county registrar of voters under Iowa law.

Auto MARK: The Auto MARK is an electronic ballot-marking device approved for use in Iowa. The Auto MARK helps voters with disabilities mark their ballots independently and privately. To do so, voters use features on the Auto MARK such as a touch screen, an audio component, or a sip and puff device to select their candidates. The Auto- MARK will then mark the ovals on the ballot. It also allows voters the opportunity to review and change their vote before the ballot is marked. The Auto MARK does not count ballots

Ballot-Marking Device: A ballot-marking device is a pen, pencil or similar device B designed for use in marking a ballot so the mark it leaves may be detected and counted by an optical scan voting machine. (See also AutoMARK.)

Ballot Rotation: Ballot rotation is the process of rearranging the order of candidates' names on the ballot from precinct to precinct. This is done to reduce any benefit that may come from a candidate's name appearing first. Iowa law allows and requires the rotation of 26

GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS candidates' names in the following situations:

1. Non-partisan elections: Candidates' names are rotated only if there are more candidates than there are seats to be filled and the race will appear on the ballot in more than one precinct. 2. General Election: Candidates' names are rotated only for county supervisor offices to which two or more persons will be elected at-large. 3. Primary Election: If there are more candidates from the same political party seeking an office than seats to be filled, candidates' names are rotated.

Bullet Voting: A voting tactic inn which the voter only selects one candidate, despite the option of voting for more than one (like school board elections). This is done either because it is easier than evaluating all the candidates or as form of tactical voting.

Canvass: The canvass is the process of compiling election results. All elections have C at least two canvasses. The first canvass is conducted at the precinct after the polls close on election night. It must be completed before the precinct election officials leave.

The second canvass is conducted by the county board of supervisors. The board compiles election results from all precincts and makes the official report of the outcome of the election within the county.

A third canvass takes place after General and Primary elections, and special partisan elections called by the governor. The Secretary of State's Office compiles the election results for all state and federal races and public measures and presents the final report to the state board of canvassers. The state board of canvassers approves official results of the election.

Ballots cast at the polls are counted only at the polling place. Only precinct election officials count votes. Votes are not counted by the county auditor or the auditor's staff.

Challenge of Voter Registration: A registered voter of a county may challenge the registration of another registered voter in the same county. A challenge must be a statement made in writing, alleging that the voter does not meet the qualifications necessary to register to vote. The challenge must be filed with the county auditor.

Challenged Voter: A challenged voter is a voter whose right to vote has been challenged. Challenges may be made either at the polls or filed with the county auditor for voters who cast absentee ballots. A voter may be challenged for any of the following reasons:

*Not a citizen of the United States

*Less than 18 years of age on Election Day

*Not a resident at the address where the person is registered

*Not a resident of the precinct where the person is offering to vote 27

GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS

*Falsified information on a registration form or on a declaration of eligibility

*Convicted of a felony and voting rights have not been restored

*Adjudged incompetent to vote

*Deceased

Chief State Election Official: The secretary of state is designated as the chief state election official and the state commissioner of elections.

City Election: see page 18

Contest, Election: An election contest is the formal process for challenging the results of an election by alleging that improper activities resulted in an incorrect outcome. (See also recount.)

Curbside Voting: Curbside voting allows a voter to cast a ballot from a vehicle. If a voter cannot enter the building where the polling place is located because of a disability, two precinct election officials, one Democrat and one Republican in partisan elections, take voting materials out to the voter in the vehicle. The voter then marks the ballot in the vehicle and returns it to the precinct election officials.

Declaration of Eligibility: A declaration of eligibility is a sworn statement made by D each voter stating the voter is eligible to vote. Each voter must complete and sign the declaration when voting. The declaration may either be on a separate eligibility slip or printed in the election register. The declaration for voters voting by absentee ballot is printed on the absentee affidavit envelope.

Disqualified Elector: A disqualified elector is a person who is not qualified to register to vote or to vote. A disqualified elector is either of the following:

*A person who has been convicted of a felony (see also Restoration of Rights). *A person who has been judged by a court incompetent to vote. Early Voting: Voting before Election Day either in-person or by mail-in ballot. See E page 10.

Earned Media: Favorable publicity gained through efforts other than paid advertising...news articles, letters to the editor, editorials. See page 11.

Election Day Registration: If you were not able to pre-register to vote, you can register and vote on Election Day with approved form of ID. You must go to the correct polling place for your current address on Election Day and you must prove both: (1) Who you are and (2) Where you live.

Election Register: The election register is the list of names and addresses of all registered voters in the precinct.

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GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS

Eligible Elector: An eligible elector is a person who meets all of the qualifications to register to vote and to vote. An eligible elector does not have to be a registered voter except in some rare circumstances (e.g. signing nomination petitions for certain offices). See page 23.

Employees—Time Off to Vote: Iowa voters who do not have three consecutive hours when they are not required to be at work during the time period between when the polls open and close on Election Day are entitled to up to three hours off from work to vote.

Exit Poll: An exit poll is a survey conducted by pollsters outside a polling place on Election Day. Pollsters are permitted within 300 feet of the outside door of a polling place, but they are not allowed inside the polling place.

Federal Election: A federal election is an election in which federal offices appear on F the ballot. Those offices include president and vice president of the United States, United States senator, and United States representative. All primary and all general elections are federal elections. A special election to fill a vacancy for a Federal Office is also a federal election.

Federal Election Commission (FEC): The Federal Election Commission is the federal agency responsible for campaign finance reporting and oversees the public funding of presidential elections.

Federal Postcard Application (FPCA): An FPCA is used by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voters to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot.

Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP): FVAP provides voting information and assistance to members of the military and overseas citizens. It also administers UOCAVA. States senator, and United States representative. All primary elections and all general elections are federal elections. A special election to fill a vacancy for the office of United States representative is also a federal election.

Federal Election Commission (FEC): The Federal Election Commission is the federal agency responsible for campaign finance reporting and oversees the public funding of presidential elections.

Federal Postcard Application (FPCA): An FPCA is used by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voters to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot.

Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP): FVAP provides voting information and assistance to members of the military and overseas citizens. It also administers UOCAVA

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB): A FWAB is a completely blank write-in ballot that does not contain any offices or candidate names. Members of the military and overseas

29

GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS citizens can vote a FWAB if they have requested regular absentee ballots more than 14 days prior to Election Day but have not received them. The use of FWABs is only permitted during federal elections. FWABs are distributed at U.S. embassies, consulates and military bases all over the world. FWABs are sometimes referred to as the "back-up ballot." G General Election: See page 19. GOTV: “Get Out The Vote: This is your plan on how you will get your supporters to the polls on Election Day or by voting early. Typically it means contacting your supporters 3-4 times the weekend leading up to the election.

Health Care Facility (for the purposes of voting): For the purpose of voting, a H health care facility means a licensed residential care facility, a nursing facility, an immediate care facility for persons with mental illness, or an immediate care facility for persons with mental retardation. A list of licensed facilities can be found online: www.dia-hfd.state.ia.us.

Help America Vote Act (HAVA): In 2002, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was passed by the U.S. Congress. It reformed voting processes across the nation and established the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). It included provisions for voting by persons with disabilities and by minority communities.

Initiative, Statewide Ballot (referendum): A statewide ballot initiative is the I process of legislating by direct vote of the people. It is voter-initiated. Citizens petition to include legislative or constitutional changes on the ballot. Statewide ballot initiatives are NOT currently permitted under Iowa law.

Judicial Election: In Iowa, judges are appointed by the governor, and after their first J year, they must stand for retention at a judicial election. They must also stand for retention at the completion of each term. Most terms are six years, except Supreme Court justices who serve eight year terms. Judicial Elections are held at the same time as the General Election.

Nominated by Petition: The phrase, Nominated by Petition, follows a non-partisan N candidate's name for a partisan office on a ballot.

Nomination Petition: The document a candidate must complete and file with the appropriate office to be placed on the ballot for election. See page 26-27.

Nomination Papers: The nomination petitions and affidavit for candidacy forms are referred to as the nomination papers.

Non-Partisan Candidate: A non-partisan candidate is a candidate who is not affiliated with a political party.

Non-Partisan Election: A non-partisan election is an election held without reference to the political party affiliation of any candidate. City and school elections are non-partisan.

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GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS

Non-Partisan Office: A non-partisan office is any office for which candidates are listed on the ballot without reference to political party or organization.

Non-Party Political Organization (NPPO): A non-party political organization is a political organization that is not a political party as defined by law. (See also political party.)

Optical Scan Voting Machine: An optical scan voting machine scans paper ballots O and tallies the results. Voters cast their votes on paper ballots and feed the ballots into the voting machine. This type of voting system leaves a voter-verified paper trail.

Overvote: An overvote occurs when a voter votes for more than the permitted number of choices for any office or question on a ballot. The voter's choices for the race which was overvoted will not be counted, but the rest of the ballot will be counted as marked.

Partisan Election: A partisan election is an election at which the political affiliation of P candidates is listed next to the candidates' names on the ballot.

Partisan Office: A partisan office is any office for which the political party or organization affiliation is listed next to the candidates' names on the ballot.

Political Party: Iowa law states that to be a political party in Iowa, an organization must have had a candidate for president or governor who received at least two percent of the total votes cast at the last General Election. Then, the organization must apply for political party status in Iowa. Currently, Iowa has two political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

Polling Place: A polling place is a room or building designated by the county auditor for holding elections in a precinct.

Poll Watcher: A poll watcher is a person who has official permission to be at a polling place. Poll watchers may view the signed declarations of eligibility so long as they do not interfere with the functions of the precinct election officials. Poll watchers cannot handle the election register.

Precinct: All voters in a precinct who vote on Election Day go to the same polling place to cast their ballots. Precincts are drawn every ten years after the federal census. No more than 3,500 people can live in a precinct when the lines are drawn.

Precinct Election Official: A precinct election official is a person appointed by the county auditor to work at an election. County auditors train precinct election officials before Election Day.

Primary Election: See page 19.

Primary Election, City: See page 18.

Provisional Ballot: A provisional ballot is used by voters whose qualifications to vote have

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GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS been challenged, voters who can't prove they are qualified to vote, and voters who requested absentee ballots but did not surrender them at the polls. The provisional ballot is sealed in an envelope and kept separate from other ballots. Before deciding to count or reject a provisional ballot, the absentee and special voters precinct board reviews voters' registration records and written evidence submitted by the challenged voter and the challenger (if any).

Proxy Absentee Ballot Request: A proxy absentee ballot request is used by certain family members of UOCAVA voters to request absentee ballots for the UOCAVA voter. The family member making the proxy request must live in the same county where the UOCAVA voter claims residence in Iowa. Proxy requests can be made no earlier than 70 days before the General Election.

Public Measure: A public measure is any question authorized or required by law to be submitted to the voters at an election

Recall Election: A recall election is an election in which voters can remove an elected R official from office by popular vote. Iowa law DOES NOT allow recall elections.

Recount: A recount is the formal process of counting ballots again to verify that the official tally of votes for an office or a public measure was correct after the county canvass of votes has been held. A written request for a recount is required. Any person who received votes for an office, including the person who received the most votes, may request a recount. For a public measure, voters can file a petition for a recount. (See also Contest.)

Recount Board: A recount board is a three-person board that conducts a recount. For a recount of an elective office, one member of the recount board is chosen by the person requesting a recount and one member is chosen by the apparent winner. If the apparent winner requested a recount, the person who received the next highest number of votes chooses a person. The first two members choose the third person for the board. When those two members cannot agree on a third, the matter is resolved by a judge. For a recount of a public measure, one person is named on the petition requesting the recount. The county auditor with whom the petition is filed chooses the second. The first two members choose the third person for the board. When those two members cannot agree on a third, the matter is resolved by a judge.

Redistricting and Reprecincting: Redistricting and reprecincting occur after the federal census every ten years. The boundaries of congressional and legislative districts, city council wards, school board director districts, and county supervisor districts are redrawn to reflect changes in population. Precinct boundaries are also redrawn and numbered or named.

Residual Vote: Overvotes and under votes are sometimes referred to as residual votes.

Restoration of Rights: In Iowa, a person's voter registration is cancelled if that person is convicted of a felony. Voting rights can be restored after completion of the sentence (including any probation, parole, or supervised release). Voting rights are restored by the

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GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS governor or president.

Retention of Judges: Iowa judges are appointed to the bench. After they have served a full year, they must stand for retention at a General Election. Judges must stand for retention at the completion of each term of office.

Revenue Purpose Statement: A revenue purpose statement is a document that explains a school district's proposal for how money from certain tax revenues will be spent. It may be submitted to the county auditor by a school district and in order to be placed on the ballot at a school election. If the revenue purpose statement is not filed and approved by voters, the school district is limited by law in the uses of the revenue received from the tax.

Runoff Election, City: See page 23.

Satellite Absentee Voting Station: A satellite absentee voting station is a location S outside the county auditor's office designated for voting in person by absentee ballot. Voting at satellite stations occurs before Election Day.

School Election: See page 23.

Social Media: Web-based or mobile technologies used to turn communication into interactive dialogue. See page 11.

Special Election: See page 20.

State Board of Canvassers: The state board of canvassers approves the final canvass of election results for primary, general and special elections called by the governor. The board includes the governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and secretary of agriculture.

Straight Party Voting: Straight party voting is the ability to vote for all the members of a political party or non-party political organization on the ballot by filling in only one target at the beginning of the ballot.

Submarine Ballot: The term submarine ballot is the nickname for a special write-in ballot authorized by Iowa law. The ballot can be used only by UOCAVA voters who are or will be outside the continental United States when they cannot receive and return their absentee ballot by normal mail delivery during the usual absentee voting period. A list of known candidates, public measures, and constitutional amendments to be voted upon at that election is included with the ballot. They may request submarine ballots no earlier than 90 days before the General Election.

Township: A township is a political subdivision of a county. The boundaries are set by T the county board of supervisors and may include incorporated territory.

Under-vote: When a voter marks fewer than the permitted number of choices for any U office or question on a ballot. The entire ballot will still be counted as marked.

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GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA): UOCAVA is a federal law that makes it easier for members of the armed forces and certain overseas U.S. citizens to register to vote and cast absentee ballots in federal elections. For more information, see UOCAVA Voters.

Unofficial Canvass of Votes: The unofficial canvass of votes occurs after the polls close on Election Night for the General Election. County auditors send results to the secretary of state's office for the federal and state races. The purpose of the unofficial canvass is to provide the public with a convenient source of General Election results before the official canvass. Results reported on Election Night are not official.

UOCAVA Voter: In Iowa, UOCAVA voters are any of the following:

* Members of the armed forces on active duty and their spouses and dependents * Members of the merchant marine and their spouses and dependents * Civilian employees of the U.S. serving outside the territorial limits of the U.S. and their spouses and dependents who live with them

* Members of religious or welfare agencies assisting members of the armed forces who are officially attached to and serving the armed forces and their spouses and dependents

* Citizens of the U.S. who live outside the territorial limits of the U.S.

* Citizens may register and vote in Iowa if either they or their parents were eligible electors of Iowa just before leaving the U.S. This includes citizens who were not old enough to register to vote at the time they left the country.

Vacancy: A vacancy is the term used to describe an elective office in need of an V officer. Generally, a vacancy is caused when an elected official resigns, dies, or is removed from office.

Voter Registration: In order to vote, you must fill out a voter registration form, either 10 days prior to the election or on election day, and be an eligible elector.

VOTER ID Bill: In 2017, the Iowa Legislature passed a Voter ID bill that dramatically reduces access to the polls. This new law requires voters to present a state-approved ID in order to vote on Election Day. It also requires all absentee ballots to contain a personal voter identification number. Provisions of the law take effect January 1, 2018, and January 1, 2019.

Ward: A ward is a geographic unit of some city governments from which city council W members are elected. A ward may be composed of one or more precincts.

Write-In Vote: A write-in vote is a vote cast for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot.

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IMPORTANT LINKS & CONTACTS Iowa Secretary of State For nominating petitions, affidavits of candidacy, filing procedures, lists of registered voters, candidates guides, and the latest rules and regulations pertaining to elections.

Iowa Secretary of State Elections Division Lucas State Office Building 321 E. 12th Street, 1st Floor, Des Moines, Iowa 50319 (515) 281-0145 www.sos.iowa.gov/elections

Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board It is extremely important that you understand and comply with all regulations of campaign finance. Penalties apply for failing to file on schedule.

Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board 510 E. 12th, Suite 1A, Des Moines, IA 50319 www.iowa.gov/ethics/ (515) 281-4028 Local County Auditor Your local county auditor’s elections division can give you important information about your particular race. This includes how many petition signatures are needed for your race, what are the precinct and ward boundaries in your district, where are your polling locations, and listing of candidates and whose terms are up for election this year.

Area Labor Councils Area Labor Councils and their Chapters are bodies of local unions in your area which can be a great resource for fundraising, volunteers, and for learning more about the labor movement. In order to get their assistance, you must first get their endorsement, usually by filling out a questionnaire and meeting with their delegates or the local WIN Committee. Note: city, school, and county endorsements are made by the local labor council. The Iowa Federation of Labor makes state legislative and statewide endorsements.

https://www.iowaaflcio.org/groups/area-labor-federations-chapters

Wellstone Action Senator Paul Wellstone was one of modern America’s most progressive voices whose life was cut short by a terrible plane crash. Wellstone Action was established to carry on his legacy. It has an array of helpful tips and tools to help beginning candidates, like WIN Number Calculator, Strategic Planning, Budget Tips, Stump Speech Worksheet, and a sample campaign plan. http://www.wellstone.org/resources

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CONTACT US: Iowa Federation of Labor, AFLCIO 2000 Walker St., Des Moines, IA 50317 515-262-9571

www.iowaaflcio.org

President Ken Sagar [email protected]

Secretary Treasurer Charlie Wishman [email protected]

Political Director Betty Brim-Hunter [email protected]

Organizers Ben Murry & Tracy Leone [email protected] [email protected]

Communication Director Lance Coles [email protected]

Bookkeeper Jamie Miller [email protected]

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