Policies v5

Voter Registration and Get-Out-the-Vote

Updated Mar 8, 2026

2 min read

Created by Steve Gerner

Key Takeaways

You cannot tell people who to vote for.
You should not target your efforts based on who you think people will vote for.
You can share objective information, like the location of polling places and hours of operation.
Where to Host Them: Set up a table at community events, farmers' markets, or even outside your own events like a community ride-along.

On this page

All advocacy groups can play a vital role in encouraging people to vote. Voter registration and Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) activities are powerful ways to engage your community and ensure that more voices are heard on Election Day.

Staying Nonpartisan

This is the most important rule. All your voter engagement activities must be nonpartisan.

A Note for 501(c)(3) Nonprofits: For 501(c)(3)s, nonpartisanship in voter engagement is a legal requirement. You cannot target your registration or GOTV efforts to areas that you believe will vote for or against a particular candidate. You can, however, target communities that are traditionally underrepresented at the polls (e.g., young people, low-income communities). {.is-info}

A Note for All Groups: For all organizations, staying nonpartisan is key to being a trusted resource. Your goal is to empower citizens to participate, not to tell them how to vote. {.is-info}

This means:

You cannot tell people who to vote for.
You should not target your efforts based on who you think people will vote for.
You can share objective information, like the location of polling places and hours of operation.

For a more detailed review, see Staying Nonpartisan: A Guide.

Voter Registration Drives

Where to Host Them: Set up a table at community events, farmers' markets, or even outside your own events like a community ride-along.
What You'll Need: Voter registration forms (available from your local election office), pens, a clear sign, and friendly volunteers.
Make it Easy: Have information ready about registration deadlines and how voters can check their registration status online.

Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV)

GOTV activities are focused on reminding people who are already registered to vote to actually cast their ballot.

Email and Social Media: In the days leading up to the election, send reminders to your email list and post on social media with key information:
- Election Day (and early voting dates)
- Polling place hours
- A link to a polling place lookup tool
Phone and Text Banking: If you have the volunteer capacity, calling or texting your members and supporters with a reminder to vote can be highly effective.
Pledge to Vote: Ask people to sign a "pledge to vote" card. This simple act of commitment can increase the likelihood that they will follow through.

By empowering your community to participate in the democratic process, you are helping to build a more representative and engaged electorate.