Active civic engagement, including voting, contributes to the health and economic vitality of local communities. People who vote are more likely to connect with neighbors, talk to elected officials, and engage civically in other ways.
Voting is connected with a host of positive benefits for individual voters and nonprofits alike. Compared to non-voters, voters are more likely to volunteer, contact their elected officials, and stay informed about local affairs. To learn more about the benefits of voting, and why getting started with voter engagement may be right for your organization, see our full “Benefits of Voting” resource here.
When speaking to your community about the reasons for voting, try a variety of different approaches. Many vote because they are for or against an issue or candidate. For others, voting is about ensuring high voter turnout, resulting in greater access to elected officials and more of a say in decisions affecting the community. For more information see our “My Vote Matters: Reasons to Register and Vote” resource here.
By actively engaging voters, nonprofits have the ability to reach people missed by traditional campaigns, also known as “High Potential Voters”. Working to engage this group contributes to more active citizenship and an electorate that more fully represents the communities they serve. To learn more about how to reach this group, see our resource “How to Reach High Potential Voters” here.
As a Nonprofit, there may be questions you have about folding voter engagement into your organization’s wider mission. This is why we have put together a short guide of frequently asked questions to help get your organization started. For more information, check out our “Questions About Voter Engagement” resource here.
