Action Kits /
Election Preparation Toolkit
This toolkit provides key information to help give Leagues the resources they need as we approach Election Day and beyond!
This guide provides resources to support your League’s election work with public education, outreach, and action in the lead up to the election.
Table of Contents:
- Public Education and Engagement
- Voter Registration
- Get Out the Vote
- Poll Worker Recruitment Information
- Work with Election Officials
- Candidate Engagement Resources
Please visit the organizing team's monthly community call for additional collaboration and learning!
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Because of the shifting changes to state election laws and practices, ongoing public education will be critical.
Talking points:
- Election Day Rapid Messaging Guidance
- Get-out-the-vote
- Mis- and Disinformation Graphics and Guidance
- Election Security and Reliability
Graphics:
- Election Season VOTE411 Graphics and Sample Posts: These brand-approved VOTE411 graphics, captions, and templates are available for local Leagues to use to get out the vote and are available in both English and Spanish.
- Mis- and Disinformation Graphics and Guidance
- Post-Election Social Media Toolkit
Templates:
- VOTE411 press release templates to spread the word about VOTE411 in the press.
- Our VOTE411 Resources Toolkit has everything about VOTE411 and how to promote it.
- Media Advisory Template to let local press know where they can come interview your spokesperson or cover your event.
- GOTV Letter to the Editor Template can help get out the vote in your community.
- Post-Election Messaging Template can help you plan for what to say immediately after the election.
Messaging Guidance:
- Election Day Rapid Messaging Guidance describes the protocol for messaging responses to a variety of election issues.
- Election Season Rapid Response Guidance has messaging and planning tactics for triaging and responding to issues at the polls.
- Tips for media interviews to help prepare for speaking with members of the press.
Other Tools:
- News Literacy PSAs to combat election misinformation.
- VOTE411 PSAs in English and Spanish.
- Suggested messaging calendar to help plan your social media and other messaging throughout election season.
Use a DEI Lens when creating your public education and engagement strategy.
Check out our DEI webinar series!
- Review this Voter Suppression Toolkit: The Fight for the Right to Vote to contextualize your efforts in an understanding of historic voter suppression and systemic oppression. You can also view this recorded training from our friends at the Leadership Conference in 2020.
- Use these guiding questions when thinking through target outreach, building partnerships, and participating in coalitions:
- How are we building trust in the system?
- Who is most impacted by the voter suppression tactics in our area? Are their voices at the table when decisions are made on how to best deal with this voter suppression tactic?
- What lessons did we learn in previous elections? Were there any areas or communities that were disproportionately impacted by changes to election laws or practices?
- Where were ballots rejected?
- Where are drop boxes located?
- Where are polling places located? Which ones experienced long lines?
LWV is not the only organization focused on ensuring that every person has equal access to the ballot! Strengthen your efforts by partnering with local organizations and community leaders to support their messaging and efforts to reach the most people.
Tips for Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement During Election Season
Election season provides many opportunities for recruitment and new ways to engage old and new volunteers and members to work together.
Growing an effective volunteer base is an intentional process — even if it is for one event. When volunteers have a positive experience with the League, we increase their likelihood to stay committed to our work and to come back for more! The elements of a great volunteer program include coming up with a plan, an ask, training, thoughts for growth, and investment in culture.
VOTER REGISTRATION
Leagues are thinking outside the box and reaching voters where they are to encourage everyone to get registered and update their registration.
Resources
- Our youth voter registration guide and virtual voter registration PowerPoint have tips for reaching the youngest eligible voters. Don't be afraid to tap into schools!
- Download printable voter pledge cards to enhance your voter registration drive and easily follow up with newly registered voters!
- Print posters! Make leaflets! Ask local businesses & organizations to include VOTE411 messages in takeout packages and food bank deliveries.
Have additional questions? Reach out to [email protected]!
GET OUT THE VOTE
Getting out the vote is an ongoing effort that includes a combination of public education, engagement, digital and in-person strategies, and more! Be sure to partner with other local organizations and community leaders to ensure that you are reaching targeted communities.
GOTV guidance, trainings, and resources:
Direct voter contact is key to increasing voter turnout, especially among young people and first-time voters. LWVEF is happy to provide these tools for Leagues working to conduct effective get out the vote! Review our GOTV Best Practices Guide!
Tips and resources
- Leverage VOTE411 with our Election Season Social Media Materials
- Protecting Democracy: Bystander Active Training
- GOTV Talking Points
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) | 10 Accessibility Tips for Getting Out the Vote
Encourage people to vote early and host a Bring Your Own Ballot Party!
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National Vote Early Day is the last Thursday in October! Check out tools from our partners at VoteEarlyDay.org!
While Vote Early Day is in late October, we want to ensure that the full month of October is full of many different activities and messages to capitalize on the momentum around early voting nationwide to get out the vote. Below are some ideas to build up momentum to get out the vote throughout the early voting season.
Host a Bring Your Own Ballot (BYOB) Virtual Party!
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Bring Your Own Ballot (BYOB) virtual parties are a great way to make sure that no mistakes are made completing your ballot, so your vote is counted. You can use VOTE411.org to find all you need to know about voting in your community and share that information with your friends and neighbors at the party!
Use relational organizing to make the biggest impact!
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Sign up for League In Action (OutreachCircle) to spread the word about key dates and processes and give people information about changes as they happen!
Have additional questions? Reach out to [email protected]!
POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT
Poll workers are critical in ensuring a healthy democracy and working election system. Because of limited funding in states for elections, much of the work of poll worker recruitment now falls on nonprofits like the League of Women Voters. To help anticipate this potential challenge, advocate for poll workers to have the equipment and space they need and help recruit more poll workers!
Tips and resources
- Share PowerThePolls.org/LWV for people in your community to learn more about how to sign up as a poll worker.
- Work with organizations, community partners, and elections officials to create a bank of poll workers.
WORK WITH ELECTION OFFICIALS
The League serves an important role in connecting voters' needs with election officials. Working closely with election officials at the state and local level helps give us the insight needed for how to support election officials, how to meet voters' needs, and how to bring diverse voices to the table.
Building relationships with election officials and county clerks allows the Leagues to assist the election process where needed. That's making democracy work!
Tips from the field:
- Start reaching out to election officials early to get a sense of how the League can support their needs, elevate proper messaging, and play a role in advocating to ensure voters have equal access.
- Partner with election officials to do joint public messaging.
- Help recruit people to count ballots. We know that an increase in voting by mail means there will be more time dedicated to counting mail-in ballots. We want to ensure that offices have the resources they need to do this well.
CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES
Debates & Forums
- FAQ's Candidate Forums-Debates
- Guidelines for State And Local League Debates including “empty chair” debates
- Hosting Virtual and Hybrid Candidate Debates & Forums During COVID
- Sample Questions for Debates and Voters' Guides
- Candidate Name Tents
Voter Guides
- Voters’ Guides Best Practices
- Sample Questions for Debates and Voters' Guides
- Voters’ Guides: Advertising Guidance