| Believe it or not, there's an election around the | | | | even know what blogs are to comment online about |
| corner. No, I'm not talking about the Presidential | | | | the importance of [insert your cause here] on that |
| campaign. I'm talking about November 6th, 2007 | | | | day. Again, you'll want to avoid the appearance of |
| when communities all across the country will be | | | | supporting specific candidates, but your members can |
| deciding on local ballot measures, county | | | | certainly talk about the issues as much as they like. |
| commissioners, city councilors and the like. | | | | 6. The Election will be YouTubed: You Tube has |
| OK, so maybe the thought of these local elections | | | | become the ultimate democratic medium. Tap the |
| doesn't fill you with the same level of anticipation (or | | | | creativity of your advocates by seeking their videos |
| dread) as a rip-roaring presidential campaign can. But | | | | highlighting the importance of your issues. The videos |
| whether you're considering getting involved in the | | | | might be interviews with business leaders, concerned |
| local 2007 elections, or gearing up for 2008, there are | | | | residents or whoever is most affected (hint: puppies |
| a dozen effective and fun ways to involve | | | | and children are ALWAYS well received.) |
| grassroots network members in the political process. | | | | 7. GOTV (the old-fashioned way): For the uninitiated, |
| In doing so, you'll build both recognition of your cause | | | | GOTV stands for "Get Out The Vote" and it's an |
| as well as a pool of motivated and knowledgeable | | | | important component of any election effort. The |
| activists. | | | | "old-fashioned" (and still viable) means of getting the |
| But before we get to those dozen ways, be sure | | | | vote out include handing out flyers, making calls to |
| you understand the rules around non-profit | | | | registered voters (lists are available from local party |
| electioneering. Overall, the hard and fast rule at the | | | | organizations and/or the local board of elections) and |
| national level is that your organization is not allowed | | | | partnering with popular gathering places like malls and |
| to support or endorse a particular candidate for | | | | churches to help spread the word. Even simple |
| office. Rules for state and local elections will vary, so | | | | techniques like changing one's voice mail to remind |
| be sure to become familiar with the restrictions in | | | | people to go vote can be effective. |
| your area. One of my favorite resources for this | | | | 8. GOTV (the new-fashioned way): At the same |
| type of information is the Charities Lobbying in the | | | | time, Web 2.0 has provided additional tools for |
| Public Interest site at clpi.org. | | | | GOTV, including texting, twitter, IM, e-mail taglines |
| Properly armed with the legalize, let's plunge in! | | | | and autoresponders. If that all sounds like a bunch of |
| 1. Registering People to Vote: At work, home, school | | | | mumbo-jumbo, recall that most people under 30 use |
| and everywhere in between, your grassroots | | | | text and IM to communicate with one another - if |
| activists can help get people registered to vote. Print | | | | you want to get them to the polls, sending a text |
| up business cards, flyers or buttons that they can | | | | message is probably the best way to do so! Go |
| either download off your site or pick up at a local | | | | ahead, ask your teenager how to do it. |
| Kinkos or other distribution point (you can upload | | | | 9. Take a friend to vote: OK, not much explanation |
| your documents online and have them printed out at | | | | needed here. But if every one of your grassroots |
| most locations). The message? Go to to register in | | | | members encouraged one of their friends to go with |
| your state - that's it! | | | | them, turn out would likely increase, right? And |
| 2. Candidate surveys: Use a service like Zoomerang | | | | although one can't assume that ALL the extra votes |
| or Survey Monkey to put together a survey of | | | | would go your way, if your advocates are bringing |
| candidates asking for their views on your issues. | | | | their friends (possibly likeminded people), there's a |
| Then, work with your grassroots advocates to get | | | | more than 50-50 chance it will turn out positively for |
| responses. Candidates are always more likely to | | | | you. |
| respond to requests from people in the districts they | | | | 10. Have some fun! Numerous national groups are |
| are seeking to represent. You may not use this | | | | raising the profile of their issues and having some fun |
| information to endorse a particular candidate - but | | | | through efforts like [ and These efforts to, |
| you can sure use it to raise the profile of your issues | | | | respectively, raise the profile of education issues and |
| in the election. | | | | children's health issues engages advocates in a whole |
| 3. Media response teams: Whether it's talk radio, local | | | | new way. |
| newscasts, letters to the editor or online outlets, | | | | 11. Online petitions: At a minimum, getting people to |
| there's generally a great deal of talk in the news | | | | sign on to online petitions gives you a ready list of |
| about election matters. Spend some time identifying | | | | people willing and able to be active on your issue. In |
| advocates who can respond quickly to media stories | | | | addition these petitions can, if popular enough, |
| in their community. You can help them by providing | | | | capture the attention of candidates. Start your own |
| short talking points and referring them to | | | | at or You can also start a larger online campaign |
| Congress.org's media guide | | | | effort at or |
| 4. House Parties: The Humane Society Legislative | | | | 12. Encourage Election Day Workers: Although some |
| Fund encourages advocates to take action around | | | | might not count this as truly supporting the cause |
| issues and elections through their "Party Animals" | | | | (after all, as a worker, your advocates won't be able |
| house party program. Activists arrange small parties | | | | to promote your issue), I do believe that encouraging |
| in their community and are connected to the larger | | | | people to serve as election day workers will enhance |
| effort through a call with national HSUS reps and | | | | not only your cause but the whole democratic |
| supporters. Consider a similar approach for your | | | | process. I've done it and it's NOT easy - but anyone |
| issues to generate enthusiasm over specific | | | | who does it learns a great deal about the election |
| candidates and issues. | | | | process -- knowledge that will serve them well in |
| 5. Bloggers Unite: Set up a "blog for [insert name of | | | | other advocacy efforts. |
| your cause here] day" near the elections and ask any | | | | Oh, and here's a bonus idea. Get out there and vote |
| of your advocates who run a blog, read blogs or | | | | - early and often. |