Learn more about: • Easy methods to register new voters and update voter registration • The deadlines and Ohio ID rules for the 2014 general election • Where to get registration materials for your organization

1. Nonprofit Voter
Registration & Engagement
Featuring Ohio VOTES

2. WILL PETRIK
STATE DIRECTOR
GAIL CLENDENIN
COMM. DIRECTOR

3. Advocates for Ohio’s Future is…
a statewide coalition of over 470
organizations working together to promote
health and human service budget and policy
solutions so that all Ohioans live better lives.

4. We believe in

5. Your organization can join AOF’s work
Endorse at www.AdvocatesforOhio.org

6. AOF’s NEW Monthly Webinar Series
• Help you take action for strong families
and communities
• Inform & Share Resources
• What’s happening at the state level?

7. Cathy Johnston
Advocacy Director-
COHHIO &
Ohio VOTES
Rubén Castilla Herrera
Community Organizer-
Central Ohio Worker
Center &
Ohio VOTES

8. What is your experience with voter
registration and engagement?
POLL: Please respond on your screen.

9. ✔ Make your Mark on
November 4
Nonprofit
Voter Engagement Training

10. Good Afternoon!

11. Today’s Agenda
 Who we are
 Why Should Nonprofits Be Engaged?
 Do’s and Don’ts
 Making An Agency Voter Engagement Plan
 Voter Registration
 GOTV
 Leave with knowledge of how, when and what you
need to vote

12. Who We Are
12

13. WHY NONPROFITS?
 Non Profits are Trusted
Messengers
 We understand the value of
inclusion and empowerment
 Advance our issues and mission
 Engage voters with nonpartisan
appeals

14. Inclusion & Empowerment

15. Nonprofits NEED
to advance our issues and mission!
15
local_gov

16. Nonpartisan Appeal

17. Do’s and
Don’ts
17

18. Do:
Check with your agency director

19. DO:
Be Nonpartisan -
Basic Guidelines for
501(c)3)s

20. DO:
Promote nonprofit voter engagement
activities to educate the public and help
them participate in elections, including:
 Voter Registration
 Voter Mobilization (aka Get out the Vote)

21. Don’t:
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization MAY NOT SUPPORT OR
OPPOSE A CANDIDATE for public office.
Don’t
• Endorse candidates
• Donate money or resources to candidates
• Rate candidates on single issues

22. Making a Plan
VOTER REGISTRATION
There are different levels of voter registration
activities. Consider the capacity of your
organization before developing a voter
registration plan

23. Level 1: Publicize and Promote

24. Level 2: Conduct Voter
Registration on Site

25. Make a Voter Mobilization Plan
 As with Voter Registration, gauge the capacity of your
organization before embarking on a plan.

26. GET OUT THE VOTE
Make October Get Out the Vote Month
501(c)(3)s may:
• Make the election highly visible
• Provide voter assistance or refer to local
board of election or the League of
Women Voters of Ohio.
• Remind staff and constituents to vote
• Remind people to mail in their absentee
ballot request form if they want to vote at
home
.

27. GOTV Principles
 Make it Personal
 Create Visibility
 Be Positive
 Make it Urgent
 Get Voters the Help They Need

28. Engaging America’s nonprofits in voting and elections
http://www.nonprofitvote.org/#
89 South Street, Suite 203
Boston, MA, 02111
Phone: 617-357-8683
Fax: 617-478-0378
Email: info@nonprofitvote.org

29. Voting in Ohio
 Voter Registration
 Three Ways to Vote in Ohio
 Voter ID

30. Ohio Voter Registration
Voter Eligibility

31. Ohio Voter Registration
Voter Registration Deadline is October 6

32. Frequent Errors on Form

33. Voter Registration
Voters who are Homeless
 Voters who are homeless in Ohio can register and vote.
 Voters who are homeless may use the address of a
shelter or other location.
 Ohio law states: If a person does not have a fixed place
of habitation, but has a shelter or other location at
which they have been a consistent or regular inhabitant
and to which the person has the intention of returning
that shelter or other location shall be deemed the
person’s residence for the purpose of registering to
vote.

34. Voter Registration &
Criminal Records

35. National Voter Registration
Act (NVRA)

36. Ohio Voter Registration

37. Voter Registration

38. Check & Update Your Voter
Registration
If you move . . . If you change names . . .
If you have moved you can update your voter
registration online
www.MyOhioVote.com

39. Change Address Online
MyOhioVote.com

40. Ohio Voter Registration
 If your agency will be collecting voter
registration forms they must be turned
into the Board of Elections or the
Secretary of State’s office within 10 days
from completion.
 For a complete guide to Voter Registration
see the Secretary of States Voter
Registration Instructions to be found at
MyOhioVote.com

41. Three Ways to Cast
Your Ballot 2014
1. Vote by Mail
(Absentee Ballot)
2. Vote Early In-Person
3. Election Day Voting

42. 1. Vote by Mail
(Absentee Ballot)

43. Vote by Mail
 Change in Law for 2014: Absentee ballot forms
require more information this year! You must provide
this information for your ballot to be counted. Be sure
to follow all instructions carefully.

44. Vote by Mail
 Absentee Voting begins September 30. If you mail in
your absentee ballot, it must be postmarked no later
than November 3.
You can drop off your
completed ballot at your
Board of Elections before the
close of the polls at 7:30 pm
on Election Day.

45. 2. Vote Early In-Person

46. Vote Early In-Person
 Early in-person voting begins September 30 for
November 4 General Election.
 Call your local Board of Elections for voting locations.
www.MyOhioVote.com

47. Vote Early In-Person
November 4 General Election Early In-Person Hours:
**On Sept. 4, 2014, a federal judge ruled that Ohio must restore early voting times that
had been cut, including:
Early voting will begin Sept. 30, 2014 for the Nov. 4 general election.
Evening hours and Sunday hours for early in-person voting must be set.
This ruling is being appealed.
Check with your local county board of elections or visit
www.MyOhioVote.com

48. Election Day Voting
Many polling locations and precincts have changed
since the last election. It’s a good idea to confirm your
current polling place and precinct before you go vote, by
contacting your Board of Elections or looking it up online
at:
www.MyOhioVote.com

49. Voter ID
 Make sure you have acceptable forms of ID
 Cell phone bill, utility bill, government document from this
calendar year

50. Ohio Contacts
614-469-1505
 Carrie Davis, LWVO Executive Director,
cdavis@lwohio.org
 Cathy Johnston, OhioVOTES Director, COHHIO
614-280-1984, X25
cathyjohnston@cohhio.org

51. Materials
www.ohvotes.org
www.lwvo.org
www.MyOhioVote.com
http://www.afj.org
Contact Cathy Johnston 614-280-1984 x25 if you
have difficulty locating needed materials

52. TAKE ACTION:
MAKE A VOTER ENGAGEMENT PLAN
• Select a method of voter engagement
• Get materials you need from Board of Elections,
Ohio VOTES website or other source
• Choose a point person in charge of the project
• Get registrations turned in on time (within 10 days)

53. Q&A
• Unmute using the phone icon on top
center of your computer screen or by
pressing *6 on phone
• Type your question into the chat bar

54. COMING UP NEXT
MEDICAID UPDATE
& HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY
Webinar on October 9, 3-4:00 P.M.

55. Advocates for Ohio’s Future
510 East Mound Street, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43215
www.advocatesforohio.org
Will Petrik | 614-602-2464
wpetrik@advocatesforohio.org
Gail Clendenin | 614-602-2463
gclendenin@advocatesforohio.org