Why GOTV Is Important to Nonprofits

Election work has always been important at the Amputee Coalition. For a nonprofit that represents more than two million Americans who have lost limbs, it is vital to provide resources that help members cast a ballot whether by visiting a polling place or otherwise.

“It’s part of our broader mission,” said Dustin Perchal, the nonprofit’s government relations manager. “These are folks with disabilities and they’re proud. They don’t want to feel ‘lesser than.’ We want to make sure that they’re empowered to the full extent that they can be, and voting is part of that.”

Indeed, nonpartisan get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts are important to thousands of nonprofits around the country — and they should be for your organization, too. Voting is vital to every nonprofit for one simple reason: It offers a chance to help choose the policymakers you work with.

A nonprofit that works to influence Congress, for example, can mobilize its members to vote with nonpartisan information, knowing those members are likely to support candidates that champion its priorities. The same can be said about organizations that advocate at the state and local levels.

A Major Election

There is good reason to dedicate resources to GOTV this year. November’s election may be a midterm, but it will alter the landscape for almost every nonprofit’s government affairs team.

In Washington D.C., it will determine which party controls Congress, with the entire U.S. House of Representatives and a third of the Senate on the ballot. In the states, 36 gubernatorial seats and legislatures in 46 states will face voters. Overall, more than 7,000 seats will be decided up and down the ballot, with more than 18,000 candidates appealing to voters.

That’s a lot of potential change — enough to have some  impact on almost every issue on your organization’s agenda. No matter what happens in November, we will emerge with a new policy landscape. From abortion rights and gun control to education and immigration, the election could impact dozens of important issues.

Helping Members Vote

What can your organization do? The Amputee Coalition has traditionally created a guide for its members in every state, detailing races and candidates and providing links for voter registration. It was helpful, but time-consuming. This year, the nonprofit has automated the process and Perchal, its government relations manager,  is optimistic the new system will be even more helpful.

“The get-out-the-vote piece is going to be so crucial to ensure that people are registered, they know where the polling places are and, if they need any type of physical assistance, they can scope it out ahead of time,” he said. “It just allows them to be prepared.”

Here are three things that every nonprofit can do to help members navigate this year’s election:

1. Create a central hub. Creating a website election center allows organizations to provide their supporters with a bevy of resources, all in one place. Your advocates can register to vote and find information on candidates, polling places, early voting deadlines, and other helpful facts.
2. Create a pledge campaign. Ask your members to sign a petition pledging to vote. The campaign reminds members of the importance of the election, helps to grow and engage your list, and serves as an interactive way to talk to your audience about voting. In November, you can highlight those who kept their pledge on social media.
3. Provide voting information. Voting laws have changed in many states and voting outside of a polling place is becoming more common. In 2018, the last midterm election, 40% of the electorate used alternative voting, meaning votes cast by mail or any means other than in person on Election Day, according to the U.S. Census. Helping members vote early or by mail can be helpful.

Of course, there are organizations that will question whether wading into an election is smart business. But even organizations that eschew politics can embrace the idea that more civic participation is better and that providing tools to help members vote is a solid benefit. Helping people vote means helping democracy work. That is something we can all support.