Voter Registration Best Practices

HAVE A STRONG MESSAGE

Instead of asking “Do you want to register to vote today?” or “Are you registered to vote?” Say, “We are registering voters today. What’s your last name?”
If someone declines to register to vote for reasons other than religious or legal, follow up with a short conversation with that person about how voting relates to the services they receive, the accessibility of their community, and everyday operations of your organization.
Take the time to emphasize the connections between voting and our everyday lives
Don’t be afraid to be persistent and insistent. People are much more likely to make voter registration a priority if they see that it is a high priority for your organization.

Most disability organizations who register their members only ask people to register during initial contact with the organization. In order to ensure that people with disabilities get registered and stay registered, you should make voter registration contact with every member before every election.

This means that every person involved with your organization is asked at some point to register to vote.
Document the process. For every member (consumer, advocate, etc.), have on file a copy of their signed registration card or a signed “declination form” that documents that the person was asked and declined to register.
Build accountability for voter registration with staff. Make voter registration as important as filling out required paperwork and other direct service requirements.
Talk about voter registration goals and tactics regularly at staff meetings

Call every unregistered participant to offer voter registration. Follow up by mailing a registration card and call again two weeks before the registration deadline with a reminder.
Do a mailing to every unregistered member 4 to 6 weeks before the voter registration deadline. Additional tips for a mailing:
1. Put a stamp on the voter registration card
2. Put your organization’s mailing label on the front of the card
3. Send two registration cards so that your member can register another person