U.S. Chamber of Commerce research indicates that voter registration and turn-out initiatives alone increase actual voter turnout by 14%.
In most states, voter registration stops 30 days before the elections. That is why it is so important to use the summer months into September to ensure that all eligible citizens are registered to vote. What's even more valuable is your role in the fall engaging in non-partisan activities that ensure that registered voters actually cast their ballots on November 2.
We as business leaders can make a big difference. Think about the number of employees you can reach. Think about how many people they in turn might influence. Think about how many customers you reach or how many community stakeholders are influenced by your actions. All of these groups represent opportunities to reach someone who is not exercising their right to vote. Each person you reach takes America one step closer towards perfecting its democracy.
Engage your employees by:
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getting them registered to vote—it's easy to do and doesn't take much time
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helping them know their options for voting on Election Day, or in advance, through absentee or early voting
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allowing those who would not otherwise vote to take a limited amount of time off from work to go to the polls
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letting them know about options for non-partisan volunteering, as you might already do with other community service opportunities
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making sure people know where to go to vote
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providing links to non-partisan resources to learn about the candidates and issues
You can see all of the great tools available from Voteworks at Employee Campaign Tool Kit.
Engage your customers by:
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getting them registered to vote
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getting them educated about the candidates and the issues
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getting them motivated to volunteer in non-partisan efforts
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getting them to the polls
You can see all of the great tools available from Voteworks at Customer Campaign Tool Kit.
Engage your business peers, networks and associations by:
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Letting them know that this is something you're doing and that its easy for them to do as well
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Encouraging your association or network to promote this to their entire network
Voteworks has provided sample pitch letters than can be adapted and sent to your business network and colleagues; and a selection of buttons and banners that you can use to link to Voteworks from your business network's website.
Click any of the links below to download:
If you are already doing a voter engagement project, let us know so we can publicize it and inspire others. If you want to find out more about what others are doing, check out Who's Doing What. You might also find that there are more things you can be doing.
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