Participation in Election and Voter Engagement Activities

Montana Nonprofits have the constitutional right and responsibility to engage in the electoral and policy-making processes. Though federal regulations require that nonprofits remain strictly nonpartisan (neither supporting nor opposing candidates for elected office), there is still a lot that can be done including candidate forums, voter education guides, voter registration, and get-out-the-vote drives. Each of these activities is legally permissible if conducted in a strictly non-partisan manner.

Nonpartison does not mean nonparticipatory.

What your organization can do to encourage participation in democracy:

1

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. Learn more.

2

Sign up to be a National Voter Registration Day partner.

The fourth Tuesday of September represents a nonpartisan day of action. This day of coordinated engagement is an opportunity to join thousands of partners and volunteers to ensure everyone in your community can exercise their right to vote. 

3

Sign your nonprofit up to be a Nonprofit Staff Vote 2022 partner.

This campaign encourages nonprofit employers to offer employees paid time off to vote on or before Election Day. Signing up gains you additional tools to integrate voter engagement into your nonprofit’s ongoing programs and services while remaining nonpartisan. 

4

Host your own voter registration event. Please contact Tylyn for more information and to brainstorm ideas. And learn how to conduct a voter registration drive in Montana from the Fair Elections Center.  

5

Check out this Nonprofit Voter Drive Workbook from Independent Sector.  

6

Find out more about voting 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:

  1. What is your personal and professional experiences with nonprofit organizations?
  2. 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 Executive Director Liz Moore or call (406) 449-3717.