nonprofits increase voting findings from 2012

NONPROFITS INCREASE VOTINGFINDINGS FROM 2012

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ABOUT US

About

Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the leading source of nonpartisan voter engagement resources for the nonprofit sector.

CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement at Tufts University) conducts research on civic education and young Americans’ voting and political participation, service, activism, and other forms of civic engagement

Find more about our mission and partners on our websites: www.nonprofitvote.org www.civicyouth.org

TODAY’S PRESENTERS

Who

Isela Gutiérrez-Gunter

Research Associate and Latino Outreach

CoordinatorDemocracy North

Carolina

Kei Kawashima - Ginsberg

Deputy DirectorCIRCLE

George PillsburyExecutive Director

Nonprofit VOTE

AGENDA

Agenda

Background Study Design Demographics and Turnout What Works Implications

Over half of all eligible voters were not contacted by a campaign in 2012.

Source: American National Election Studies, 2008 and 2012 Survey of Political Involvement and Participation in Politics

PARTICIPATION GAPS

YOUTH TURNOUT IN NATIONAL ELECTIONSReduced contact in midterm elections contributes to lower turnout including youth voters

• Political Voice: Non-voters show higher support for nonprofit and government services

• Personal Benefits: People who register connect with neighbors and engage in community affairs

• Power for Organizations: Nonprofits whose constituents vote have greater access and clout

WHAT’S MISSED

Background

• Access and Trust: Nonprofits have unique access to underrepresented populations

• Reverse Door knocking: People “knock” on our doors for services.

A ROLE FOR NONPROFITS

Background

STUDY DESIGN

• Partners in 7 states: Recruited participants

• 94 nonprofits: Community health centers, multi-service agencies and other service providers

• 33,741 voters: Tracked face-to-face voter engagement with voters at their agency

WHO’S INVOLVED

Design

• Registrations and Pledges: People were asked to register to vote or sign a pledge to vote

• Matching to Voter File: Nonprofit Voters matched to voter file for demographics/turnout– State VAN: Matching– Catalist: Analysis

TRACKING THE NONPROFIT VOTERS

Design

DEMOGRAPHICS AND TURNOUT:

Quantitative Findings

Nonprofit Voters were a much more diverse group of registered voters than registered voters in the general population.

NONPROFIT VOTERS A DIVERSE GROUP

Quant

Nonprofit Voters outperformed their counterparts in the general population by 6 points.

NONPROFIT VOTERS HAD HIGH TURNOUT

Latino and Asian American Nonprofit Voters out- performed their counterparts by 18 points.

BY RACE AND ETHNICITY

Nonprofit Voters turned out at comparable rates with only small disparities by race or ethnicity.

CLOSING VOTER TURNOUT GAPS

Lower income Nonprofit Voters outperformed their counterparts by as much as 15 points.

BY INCOME

Young Nonprofit Voters under age 30 outperformed their counterparts by 15 points.

BY AGE

• Catalist assigns every individual a propensity to vote score on a scale of 0-100.

• Campaigns focus mobilization on individuals with a propensity between 30 and 70.

• Individuals with lower propensity scores are frequently neglected.

PROPENSITY TO VOTE

Turnout

Very low propensity Nonprofit Voters turned out a rate 3 times that of their counterparts.

BY PROPENSITY

• Higher Turnout: Voters contacted by a nonprofit where they receive services turned out at higher rates than the general population.

• Less Disparities: Turnout by Nonprofit Voters was more consistent across all demographics of race, income, and age.

• Greater reach: Nonprofits reach and turnout voters campaigns don’t contact.

CONCLUSIONS

Turnout

NONPROFITS ANDVOTER ENGAGEMENT:

What Worked

• How Many: 16 case studies and 27 interviews

• Purpose: To learn more about what makes nonprofit voter engagement successful

• Motivation: To advance their mission and build power and efficacy for the people they serve

CASE STUDIES AND INTERVIEWS

WhatWorked

The biggest challenge was recruiting staff and volunteers motivated to do the work• Plan ahead to identify staff and volunteers• Provide training both on the how-to and importance

of the work

LEADERSHIP AND STAFFING

WhatWorked

Integrate voter engagement into an ongoing program or service• Target a program where people have time to engage

- like when signing up for a benefit or in a class• Table in high traffic area at your center or at a

nonprofit event

IDENTIFY TACTICS

WhatWorked

Nonprofits benefited from training and assistance from partners• Get help from a partner who can answer questions

about the election or provide volunteers or materials• Connect to your local election board

SUPPORT FROM PARTNERS

WhatWorked

Good materials answered questions and started conversations• A handout on rights of ex-offenders to vote…or a

ballot measure• Pledge cards, posters or small giveaways

OUTREACH MATERIALS

WhatWorked

The most successful organizations planned ahead• For the November midterm

– Have a plan of your activities and staffing 5-6 months ahead

– Plan for your most intensive voter engagement activities two months before election

PLAN AHEAD

WhatWorked

• National Voter Registration Day is the 4th Tuesday in September. That’s September 23rd, 2014.

• Start planning now!

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY

WhatWorked

• Personal contact by “trusted messengers” remains the most powerful approach to mobilization

• Nonprofits uniquely reach and turnout populations least expected to vote

• Mobilizing under-represented groups improves the quality of our democracy

IMPLICATIONS

Implications

• Factsheets, Guides, Toolkits and more available at www.nonprofitvote.org

RESOURCES

Resources

Resources

DOWNLOAD REPORTwww.nonprofitvote.org/evaluating-the-impact-of-nonprofits-on-voter-turnout

• Full Report• Executive Summary• Case Studies• Waking the Sleeping Giant – SPaCE report

info@nonprofitvote.org

617.357.VOTE (8683)

www.nonprofitvote.org

Nonprofit VOTE89 South StreetSuite 203Boston, MA 02111

George Pillsburygpillsbury@nonprofitvote.org

Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg

kei.kawashima_ginsberg@tufts.edu

Isela Gutierrez-Gunterisela@democracy-nc.org