Human Services Non-PartisanVoter Registration Project |
NASW-NYC Chapter partnered with Human Services Council of NYC, Inc. for the Human Services Non-Partisan Voter Registration Project. Human Services Council is an association of New York City not-for-profit human services providers. This historic project aims to institutionalize voter registration within the human services sector. Existing legislation mandates most social service agencies to register voters. In 2004, more than 70 agencies attended our project’s trainings to launch or enhance their voter registration programs. An additional 50 agencies received our voter registration training materials. Training materials on this page can help develop your own agency’s campaign.
Some Important Information To Consider About Voter Law Make a Difference in Three Easy Steps Taking Voter Registration a Step Beyond What Our Project Has Done with the ZIP Code Data Collected Additional Resources for Voter Registration Special Word to Federation and Coalition Organizations
SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO CONSIDER ABOUT VOTER LAW: Being understaffed and under-funded is one of the greatest challenges faced by many human services agencies. But before you dismiss the idea of a voter registration program at your agency, consider this: Existing legislation mandates most social service agencies engage in some form of voter registration. For our Voter Law Summary, Click here. For our sources on voter law you can visit: NYC Voter Law: Click here. NYS Voter Law/ National Voter Registration Act: Click here. While the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)—better known as the "Motor Voter" law— is registering people at DMV and welfare offices, many people are not being reached. This is why Section lb of the NVRA encourages "all nongovernmental entities" to register their clients. This includes homeless shelters, drop-in centers, food pantries, soup kitchens, day care centers, child welfare agencies, community health centers, etc. MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THREE EASY STEPS: 1. Appoint a Voter Registration Coordinator. For New York City Board of Elections contact information Click here. 2. Make Voter Registration Part of Your Intake. 3. Offer Clients Help in Filling Out Voter Registration Forms. Maintain records of those you register to vote so you can include them in your voter education and get-out-the-vote efforts, as well as lobbying elected officials for client programs.
TAKING VOTER REGISTRATION A STEP BEYONDIn addition to encouraging voter participation, the other primary vision of this project has been to report to local elected officials the number of registered voters that use and work in the human services system. This gives us clout when we lobby for client programs, workforce salaries and job increases. We encourage you to do this. Keeping Track of Registered Voters: It is a good practice to keep records of voters that you have registered so that you can include them in your voter education and Get-Out-The-Vote efforts. PLEASE NOTE: Voter registration forms are a matter of public record. Many social service agencies do keep databases of voters they have registered. Here are some options for using this information to increase the power and effectiveness of voter registration:
Reminder postcards: Ask clients if they would like to receive a reminder to vote on Election Day. You can have them complete self-addressed reminder postcards as you register them to vote. Then send these out before Election Day. Candidate Forums: Organize nonpartisan candidate forums, and invite clients. For more on this Click here.
How to Vote: Hold trainings on how to use a voting machine. In some cases the NYC BOE can visit your agency to conduct a training. For more information contact Chris Riley, Director of Communications, NYC Board of Elections, at 212-487-5300.
Educating on Civic Participation: Educate clients on the issues that affect them so they can make educated voting decisions. The New York Immigration Coalition is a great resource Click here. ZIP Code Tallying: Tally the ZIP codes of those who you have registered to vote. For a ZIP code tallying form produced for your use, Click here. You can customize this form to your needs. This ZIP code tally form can be provided to your staff members who register voters. Each time you register a voter, note their ZIP code and simply mark the tally sheet to keep a running tab of how many voters you have registered per ZIP code. Presenting elected officials with the totals of registered voters from the social services sector within heir districts, urges elected officials recognize and consider your clients (their constituents) in their legislative decisions! To see what we have done with the ZIP code data collected, Click here. Some more information on developing your agency’s voter registration plan: Remember, it’s important to have something to strive for... here are some questions to think about when developing your plan.
WHAT OUR PROJECT HAS DONE WITH THE ZIP CODE DATA COLLECTEDTaking voter registration a step beyond, we have mobilized agencies to tally ZIP codes of those they have registered to vote. The Human Services Non-Partisan Voter Registration Project has mobilized over 40 agencies to register more than 23,000 voters in 2004! Working with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) – Community Mapping Assistance Project (CMAP), we have made the totals of registered voters we collected come alive. The maps created demonstrate to elected-officials the total voters registered by social service agencies in their district and throughout New York City. These registered voters are their constituents, the very people they are elected to serve. We encourage you to use these maps in your lobbying and advocacy efforts. This gives us clout when we lobby for client programs, workforce salaries, and job increases. For more on CMAP Click here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION
For a Board of Elections Order Form to request voter registration materials, please call the Board of Elections directly at 212-487-5300.
Overcoming Excuses by Non-Profits Eight Dos and Don’ts for Non-Profits in an Election Year
NYC Board of Elections Offices and other Useful Resources For Non-Partisan Voter Registration
Common Questions Asked by Social Service Agencies About Voter Registration
Non-Partisan Voter Registration and GOTV Planning and Training Material NYC BOE voter registration information and downloadable form
NYC BOE absentee voting information and downloadable absentee application Other FAQs of social service agencies
SPECIAL WORD TO FEDERATION AND COALITION ORGANIZATIONS As an “umbrella” organization, your agency can create a web link to this page at NASW so that your member agencies can tap into all these resources and establish voter registration!
NEED MORE HELP?For some FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS that may help you, click here. If your questions are NOT answered in these resource pages, here are some additional contacts: NYC Board of Elections – main NYC office 212-487-5300 or www.vote.nyc.ny.us The League of Women Voters212-725-3541 www.lwv.org and www.congress.org Promotes citizen participation. Provides voting/election resources such as candidate comparisons. Demos NVRA Implementation Project New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) www.nypirg.org Project Vote Smart www.vote-smart.org Citizens Union www.citizensunion.org Gotham Gazette www.gothamgazette.com Alliance for Justice202-822-6070 Publishes “The Rules of the Game: An Election Year Legal Guide for Nonprofit Organizations” New York State Board of Elections: NVRA Unit518-474-1953 Contact Tim Mattice for questions about NVRA compliance For more information on this law online: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/nvra/activ nvra.htm
Human Services Council of NYC, Inc. (212) 836-1230 With NASW – NYC, joint founder of the Human Services Non-Partisan Voter Registration Project
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