Voter turnout in the United States is among the lowest in the world. In the 2014 midterm elections, 33 percent of the voting-age population voted, setting the record for the lowest turnout in any national election of any advanced democracy (except Andorra) since 1945. There are many reasons so few Americans vote, but among them is that the United States is one of the few countries that holds elections on a workday. Finding time to vote during a workday imposes a significant burden that falls disproportionately on workers and students, who frequently cite scheduling conflicts with work or school as their reason for not voting.

Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the largest source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services.

Our goals are to:

• Provide high quality resources for nonprofits and social service agencies to promote voter participation and engage with candidates on a nonpartisan basis.

• Build lasting capacity for nonpartisan voter and election engagement throughout the nonprofit sector.

• Encourage increased voter participation and active citizenship, especially among voters new to the process or with a recent history of lower participation.

• Develop and evaluate agency-based models for voter engagement by nonprofit service providers, identifying the most effective strategies for nonprofits to incorporate voter engagement into their ongoing activities.

• Strengthen the nonprofit sector and encourage new civic leadership.

Wisconsin Voices began as an idea. People and organizations came together to push progressives to remember what we stand for and make a plan to realize our values… together. That plan included the need to build an engaged citizenry working for change and to expand the electorate by targeting underrepresented constituencies.

Over time, a shared voter file was developed to enhance nonpartisan voter contact and focus resources. The Wisconsin Civic Engagement Project turned into Wisconsin Voices, an affiliate of State Voices, and thus became connected to similar work and best practices all around the country.

Today, Wisconsin Voices brings groups together, builds the power of our collective voice by providing guidance, advice and support as we embark on our journey towards a better Wisconsin.

Here are a few articles that you may find interesting....

• Stop Sitting on the Sidelines, Nonprofits, and Get Out The Vote - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• The Fight to Save Democracy - The Isthmus

• Election Experts Recommend Paper Ballots for 2020 Election - WPR News

• For Older Voters, Getting the Right ID Can be Especially Tough - NPR News

• Vote Riders - Have ID, Will Vote

This is a great resource to find...

• If you are registered to vote

• How to register to vote

• Where to find your polling place

• What's on your ballot

• How to vote absentee

Election Officials, or Poll Workers, facilitate the right to vote and maintain order at the polls on Election Day. They ensure that our elections are open, fair, impartial, and trusted.

One of the most rewarding ways to become involved in the election process is to become an Election Official.

Help the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin monitor Wisconsin's elections. We are seeking volunteers to be trained as Election Observers and placed in polling places in specific areas around the state. You don't need to be a League member to volunteer for this -- although we'd love to have you join us!

In this presentation Wenona and Erica will discuss

• What is Race to the Polls, why it was created, and why it’s important for Wisconsin.

• Facts and figures on the significant racial disparities we have in health, income, education, and other measures of well-being in Wisconsin.

• How to vote, and what’s on your ballot.

• Which organizations are working to make voting more accessible in communities of color, especially communities who have been and are still excluded from our democracy.

• What policies to look out for when researching different candidates.

• ​What individuals and organizations can do to prioritize racial justice in your discussions about the November midterm elections.

In this presentation Caitlin will discuss

• How to remain nonpartisan when engaging voters

• Four voter engagement strategies that are affirmed and encouraged for nonprofits by the IRS

In this presentation Dana will discuss

• Nonprofits can and should be involved in the voting process

• Do's and Don'ts for nonprofits in elections

• Examples of nonprofits doing civic engagement in the election process

• How to make a plan for your nonprofit to get out the vote this year

Shauntay Nelson, Democracy Director - Wisconsin Voices
Shauntay works with a network of progressive organizations to ensure a greater impact of civic and voter engagement. Her work involves collaboration with local and state community leaders and politicians, to create policy that will strengthen her community. Nelson works diligently to lobby legislators on behalf of issues that impact democracy in Wisconsin. She serves as a guest speaker regarding the statewide redistricting process and has a passion to educate the public about how redistricting impacts communities of color. She is also one of the leaders charged with educating the public about the issue of judicial recusal in Wisconsin.

In this presentation Shauntay will discuss:
• Photo ID requirements
• How to register to vote prior to the election and on the day of the election
• Your rights as a voter
• How to complete your ballot