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Congregations everywhere are involved in Get Out the Vote (GOTV) activities in their communities and beyond – voter education, voter registration, voter protection, engagement with candidates, and voter mobilization for election day\u00a0<\/strong>– are all meant to encourage informed participation in our right to be involved in elections and our right to vote.<\/p>\n This 2018 project is funded in part by the Unitarian Universalists Funding Program<\/strong><\/p>\n Following are some resources, ideas and opportunities to motivate and engage your congregation. If you want to work with UUSJ or have questions contact us at GOTV@uusj.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a><\/a><\/p>\n UUSJ has partnered with the Florida\u00a0Second Chances\u00a0<\/a>initiative and we are promoting monthly Unitarian Universalist Phone Banking Days urging Florida voters to Vote Yes on Amendment 4.<\/p>\n In Florida there are 1.4 million people with past convictions who would gain the right to vote if Amendment 4\u2014Second Chances<\/a>\u00a0Amendment (Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative)\u2014is passed. \u00a0Florida is one of four states with a lifetime ban on voting for anyone who has served time for felony convictions, a law stemming from Jim Crow-era voting restrictions.<\/p>\n Anyone from any state can participate even from home.\u00a0Sign up and invite your congregation to sign up as well. For more ideas about what you can do and when, here’s a flyer with details about the\u00a0<\/strong>amendment and what you can do to help:\u00a0<\/b>Florida Amendment 4 What you can do<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once you sign up you\u2019ll receive a link to a 15-minute webinar and instructions.<\/p>\n <\/a> UUs can assist people by helping to make sure they are eligible, registered and ready to vote on election day. Voter registration drives are about registering new voters and re-registering voters. Examples of people that may need to re-register are people with address changes (find out from your membership person who has recently moved in the congregation), name changes, or those that have been convicted of a felony but have served their sentence and finished their probation or parole.<\/strong><\/p>\n Plan ahead. Identify a small team of people from your congregation. Get trained – sign up for your state’s election voter registration training so you can register voters. Order materials. Secure and get permission to use locations such as local fairs, a grocery store, the library, and be sure to complete your events before the registration deadline in your jurisdiction. OR find an organization like the League of Women Voters and support their efforts.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong><\/span> When talking to potential voters, ask them what issues motivate them, which will remind them why they should vote.<\/p>\n Use voter registration drive toolkits for guidance, and the UUSJ toolkit for tips and signage for your after service tabling. Here are examples:<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong><\/span> If you visited a household once, follow up to encourage voters to go to the polls or submit their absentee ballots. The same person visiting a the household a second time is a best practice. Tip:<\/span><\/strong> At your voter registration events, use a pledge card or voter commitment card<\/a>\u00a0to capture their contact information so you can follow up later. Also you can have them self-address a post card that you will mail to them. Ask registrants:<\/p>\n — if they would like to be contacted closer to Election Day with a reminder to vote.<\/p>\n — if they need assistance getting to the polls on Election Day.<\/p>\n — if they need child care. Maybe your congregation could provide childcare during a portion of the day for example following working hours.<\/p>\n GOTV efforts after registration are usually held within a week of the election and on election day. Activities includes telephoning, canvassing, literature drops, and on election day providing transportation to the polls, child care, etc. If you are involved with registering voters, keep records from pledge forms or other sign up forms, of registrants\u2019 names, addresses, and contact information in order to support their participation in voting on Election Day. <\/a>Recruit and schedule volunteers to make reminder phone calls and follow up with those that need transportation assistance on Election Day. Personal relationship-building is important.<\/p>\n A candidate forum is a public event where candidates running for office are invited to meet community members and express their positions on issues. Whether for a local, state, or federal election, a candidate event is a great way to lift up our UU issues with the soon to be elected representatives, and the public alike. And public forums help build support for the issues that matter to your congregation, and to learn more about the candidates running to represent you.<\/p>\n Check out our new Guide to Questions for Candidates 2018 for ideas how you as an individual or congregation can discern on the issues that are most important to you and learn how they are grounded in our UU Principles.<\/p>\n Beyond GOTV – A toolkit of more than 20 questions to ask US House and Senate candidates and tips on to <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n adapt questions, engage your congregation, and where to find the candidates.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s one tip: We suggest you do some “bird dogging” and find out where candidates will already be speaking and show up and ask your questions at existing events. If you want to organize your own forum, partner with a few groups so they can help get people out to the event. Here are some “How To” guides:<\/p>\n <\/a> Leading up to Election Day, prepare yourself on the candidates and issues that will be on the ballot in your area. What are the candidates\u2019 positions and track records on the social justice issues you care about?<\/p>\n Learn about the current threats to democracy and voting rights. What impact do voter suppression tactics such as voter ID laws, elimination of early voting and proof of citizenship requirements have and where are they being used? What are violations of the National Voter Registration Act? What\u2019s being done to end voting discrimination?<\/p>\n Use UUSJ\u2019s Write Here! Write Now!<\/em> toolkit<\/a> to organize letters from members of your congregation to communicate with candidates. Letters to members of Congress on priority issues will be delivered by the UUSJ Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps.<\/a> Not much happening in your state? Seek out states with ballot measures and offer your congregation’s support “in phone-banking. Check out the Ballotpedia website<\/a>\u00a0with all state ballot initiatives and much more on all aspects of elections. Here’s a link to their\u00a02018 Ballot Measure Scorecard<\/a>.\u00a0Grassroots advocacy groups in Florida, Ohio, Missouri and other states have introduced ballot initiatives that will re-enfranchise former felons, reduce mass incarceration, and limit corporate influence in elections.<\/p>\n For more information about UU partners contact: Susan Leslie at\u00a0SLeslie@uua.org<\/a>
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Voter Registration and Ballot Information for All States<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
— Voter\u00a0registration and voting deadlines<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
—\u00a0Voter registation status Vote.org with\u00a0direct link to your state’s official voter registration status page beneath the form.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
— Information about candidates<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
— Voter ID Laws<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
— Downloadable voter ID wallet cards<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
— Information on ballot measures\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h5>\n
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What Your Congregation Can Do<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Join in phone banking – restore voting\u00a0rights in Florida and more…<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
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Brigham Johnson, Board Member, UU Justice Florida<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>brigham@uujusticefl.org<\/a>, 813-968-2972.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nTo schedule a calling events in Ohio<\/strong> contact:\u00a0Susan Leslie at\u00a0SLeslie@uua.org<\/a><\/div>\n
\nSee section below “Support a Ballot Initiative” to find states with ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n
\nIncrease voter turnout –\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>Get Out the Vote \u00a0(<\/em><\/strong><\/span>GOTV)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
First: Register voters\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
If you are doing tabling at your congregation, you’ll probably find that most UUs are already registered, but they are very interested in learning about how to vote by absentee and other early voting options. Provide the information they need about deadlines, and how and where to go to vote early.\u00a0Click here<\/a><\/strong> for UUSJ’s Get Out the Vote Toolkit.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>It includes tabling signage.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nSecond: Turn voters out to the polls<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nBeyond GOTV – Host or attend a candidate forum – prepare your own questions<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
NEW: UUSJ Guide to Questions for Candidates 2018<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
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\nWhether you are organizing or attending a candidate forum, it\u2019s important to be clear about the social justice issues that are of concern to you and your congregation and prepare questions ahead of time.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nResearch and stay informed<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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\nIn the DC-MD-VA area? Schedule a UUSJ advocacy training session for your congregation. Contact: advocacy@uusj.org<\/a><\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nSupport a ballot initiative – host a call party<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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\nA listing of ballot initiatives and legislation<\/strong>\u00a0(2018 out of date; 2020 to be posted when site is active for the elections) can be found at the\u00a0FieldGuidetoDemocracy.org\u00a0movement website.<\/p>\n
\nFaith Community, Government and Secular\/Community Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Faith Community Resources:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n