Nonprofits’ Guide to Engaging Constituents After an Election
Our democracy relies on ordinary people to ensure that elections are conducted efficiently and to guarantee that every citizen’s vote is counted. As reliable sources of information, nonprofits can help resolve questions and confusion by mobilizing their constituencies and sharing the following resources:
Track your Ballot
Voter turnout data indicates that 70% of voters voted early with a mail ballot or early in-person instead of in-person on Election Day during the 2020 general election, resulting in a historic record of 111 million voters who cast their ballot by mail or in-person during early voting. Additionally, a report issued by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission confirmed that mail voting rates in the US “remained higher than pre-pandemic levels” during the 2022 midterm elections, as more than 35 million ballots were cast by mail.
Election officials have valuable intelligence tools that simplify and expedite voting procedures while reducing operational costs. While tracking options may vary, voters can track their ballots in every state. Nonprofits can help ensure that every ballot is counted by encouraging eligible voters in communities, nationwide, to confirm their vote using BallotTrax and USPS.
Amplify Trusted Resources
Fears surrounding election interference and political violence can lead to disinformation and mistrust in our electoral process. It’s incumbent upon nonprofits to share reliable and impartial information to combat misinformation and inaccuracies. Robust voter education campaigns and strategic messaging will continue to be a lifeline for many constituents as states and municipalities may experience ballot processing and verification delays. In addition to our own organizations, the voices of state and local election officials are particularly powerful.
Promote Opportunities for Constituent Advocacy
Democracy is most protected when ordinary citizens practice it by standing united in its defense. Ballots may take significantly longer to process as election officials nationwide process mail-in ballots, anticipate wait times, litigation, and election-system challenges.
Regardless of how your organization may feel about the results of a particular election, prompting opportunities to engage in constituent advocacy can amplify the expertise of organizations working to expand voting rights nationwide in future elections.
Celebrate Inclusion and Voter Turnout
Nonpartisan voter engagement conducted by nonprofits has its biggest turnout impact among marginalized groups that are historically excluded from democratic activities. Celebrate your commitment to cultivating a more representative electorate by sharing the latest data surrounding national and state turnout rates.
Develop Your Nonprofit’s Post-Election Plan
Nonprofit advocacy and civic engagement don’t end with the election cycle. If you’re planning only for the election, your nonprofit is missing out on opportunities to advance our organizations’ missions and expand the sector’s collective impact. The policymakers we elect will determine future budgets at every level of government, including funding for organizations and people we serve.
Nonprofit voter and civic engagement increase nonprofits’ relevance both during and after elections, enabling us to participate in critical public policy discussions that inform nonprofit issues. Once the election results are confirmed, nonprofits can spring into action to develop year-round advocacy strategies that advance missions and legislative agendas – and ultimately serve our constituents.
Make a commitment to Leave No Power on the Table by using Independent Sector’s Nonprofit Voter Empowerment Playbook to curate nonpartisan voter and civic engagement strategies that are tailored to meet your nonprofit’s unique needs and services.
The Nonprofit Voter Empowerment Project is a nonpartisan campaign developed by Independent Sector in partnership with Nonprofit VOTE to support nonprofits’ efforts to increase voter participation among their staff, grantees, volunteers, and constituents.
