Participation in Election and Voter Engagement Activities
Montana nonprofits play a pivotal role in building a more inclusive democracy. Nonprofits have the constitutional right and responsibility to engage in electoral and policy-making processes. As long as nonprofits remain nonpartisan, they can talk about the importance of elections, educate voters on when and where to vote, engage in voter registration, communicate election reminders, host candidate forums, and more.
Nonpartison does not mean non-participatory.
People engaged by nonprofits are more likely to vote than comparable voters. The boost in turnout is greatest among voters otherwise underrepresented in our democracy, including people of color, people living on low incomes, and voters ages 18-24. (Nonprofit VOTE Power Report)
What your organization can do to encourage participation in our democracy:
1
Voter Registration
Sign up for a voter registration kit from MontPIRG. The kit includes voter registration forms, a secure box, and support from MontPIRG for voter registration.
Participate in National Voter Registration Day or plan your own voter registration event. Consider joining the national, nonpartisan day of action on September 17, 2024. Sign up to receive free stickers, posters, and support. You can also host a registration event on any day that works for your organization!
2
Encourage & remind people to vote
Sign your nonprofit up to be a Nonprofit Staff Vote partner. This campaign encourages nonprofit employers to offer employees paid time off to vote on or before Election Day. Signing up as a partner also gives you access to tools to integrate voter engagement into your nonprofit’s ongoing programs and services while remaining nonpartisan.
Incorporate voting reminders into your communications. Include reminders and information on voting in your newsletters, website, social media, or other communications in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
3
Talk to Candidates
Invite candidates to visit your nonprofit and learn about your work. Candidates want to engage with the communities they are running to represent. Invite them to your organization for a tour and conversation. Review guidelines for engaging in a nonpartisan manner. Invite each of the candidates running for a particular office and avoid any language or statements that could be construed as endorsing a particular candidate.
Want to learn more?
- Nonprofit Voter Engagement Playbook from Independent Sector
- Find webinars, voting information, and support at Nonprofit VOTE
- Important information about how to vote in Montana from Campus Vote Project
- Find county-level voting information in Montana by visiting Vote in Montana.
MNA’s Election and Voter Engagement Activities
During election years, Montana Nonprofit Association provides a forum for all Governor and Attorney General Candidates to speak at the annual MNA conference. Additionally, MNA promotes and supports legally permissible, nonpartisan engagement by nonprofits in local elections. For Montana’s charitable nonprofits to have a seat at the policy table, we must work together to raise the visibility and voice of the nonprofit sector through our relationships and activities with policymakers and candidates at all levels.
MNA aims to ensure that every candidate seeking office in Montana or nationally on behalf of Montanans anticipates and responds to these fundamental questions:
- What is your personal and professional experiences with nonprofit organizations?
- What are three specific ways in which, if elected, you would partner with and strengthen the nonprofit sector to achieve the goals of your campaign?
Working together, we will build strong partnerships with our policy makers and mobilize our nonprofit leaders and constituents for a vibrant nonprofit sector.
For more information regarding MNA’s election and voter engagement activities, please contact Policy Director Lorianne Burhop or call (406) 449-3717.
