Engaging in elections is one of the most powerful things your advocacy organization can do. By educating your members and the public about where candidates stand on your issues, you empower voters to make informed decisions. This work is essential for advancing your mission, whether you are a formal 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an informal community group.
Why It Matters for Bicycle Advocacy
Elected officials at the local level—city council members, mayors, county supervisors—make critical decisions that directly impact the safety and comfort of people who bike. They vote on:
- Budgets: Funding for bike lanes, trails, and pedestrian infrastructure.
- Policies: Complete Streets policies, zoning changes, and traffic laws.
- Projects: Approving new developments and road redesigns.
By engaging during an election, you have a unique opportunity to:
- Educate Candidates: Many candidates are unfamiliar with the details of active transportation issues. You can become their most trusted source of information.
- Center Your Issues: You can elevate the importance of safe streets in the public conversation, making it a key topic for all candidates.
- Build Future Relationships: The work you do during an election lays the groundwork for a productive relationship with whoever wins office.
A Note on Nonpartisanship
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A Note on Nonpartisanship
Expanded details for this section
A Note on Nonpartisanship
For 501(c)(3) Nonprofits: Federal law is very clear: 501(c)(3) organizations are strictly prohibited from endorsing, opposing, or contributing to any candidate for public office. All activities must be nonpartisan. {.is-warning}
For All Other Groups: Even if you are not a 501(c)(3), we strongly recommend adopting a nonpartisan stance for your election-related activities. Endorsing a candidate can alienate community members and damage your ability to work with the winning candidate if they were not the one you endorsed. Focusing on issues, not candidates, ensures you can build a productive relationship with whoever wins. {.is-info}
501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely allowed to engage in nonpartisan activities that educate voters and candidates. These activities include:
- Candidate Questionnaires: Asking all candidates the same issue-based questions and publishing their unedited responses.
- Candidate Forums: Hosting a public forum where all candidates are invited to discuss their positions on key issues.
- Voter Registration: Encouraging people to register to vote.
- Publishing Voting Records: Sharing how incumbent officials voted on issues relevant to your mission.
The key is to focus on the issues, not the people. Your goal is to provide information in a fair, unbiased, and educational manner.