There are many legal and appropriate ways for businesses to promote the vote. Business participation is governed by the Internal Revenue Code, Federal Election Campaign Act, state law and Justice Department regulations.

This section covers rules about voter registration, volunteerism, time off to vote, and promoting voting on or before Election Day.

Below are some guidelines for you to keep in mind when you plan and implement your voter engagement campaign. Remember, this information is not legal advice and it is important to seek legal counsel prior to embarking on these activities. If you would like a referral to legal counsel knowledgeable about this arena, let us know and we will provide recommendations.

Voter Registration:
A business may host non-partisan on-site or online voter registration drives. A business cannot incent an individual to register. Depending on state law, a business may provide incentives for an individual to volunteer to register others. A business may not coordinate with a party or a candidate or their campaigns in conducting this activity. A business can also work with non-profit, non-partisan voter registration projects and provide in-kind or financial support to such projects.

Voter Registration Deadlines [League of Women Voters]

Volunteering:
A business may promote non-partisan volunteering to their employees and customers. A business may reward such participation by paying for time off as with other community service programs, providing unpaid leave if requested, or otherwise recognize employees or customers for volunteering.

Time Off to Vote:
Many states mandate that employers provide time off to vote on Election Day, especially when an employee's workday overlaps with the times polling stations are open. Some even require employers to pay their employees for the time spent getting to the polls if they can't get there during nonwork hours. Click on the link below to find out what your state requires. You can also proactively let your employees know about your policy, and provide the most expansive time off to vote situation.

Voter Leave Laws [Time to Vote]

Other activities to support Election Day activity:
A business can provide company cars or your fleet to groups that help voters with no transportation get to the polls. You can promote the fact that November 2 is Election Day and that you encourage everyone's participation in voting. A business can promote the fact that Election Day is coming and is here, and that you celebrate participation. You can host a party or provide free product as long as that is open to everyone whether they voted or not.

Voteworks will actively support you so that you can:

• run a non-partisan voter registration campaign for your customers and employees
• offer an incentive to employees or customers to get others involved in registering voters (but you can't incent an individual to register and state rules vary about incentives)
• include non-partisan, non-profit 501c3 groups in your voter registration campaigns
• give paid time off to vote (check for your state guidelines above)
• pay employees for their time off to help support non-partisan voter registration, getting out the vote (GOTV) campaigns, poll watching and other Election Protection work
• lend out the company car or van to drive employees and others to cast their ballot
• encourage employees, in a non-partisan way, to vote
• celebrate registering, voting, and volunteering by hosting a celebration (which must include anyone, not only voters, volunteers and those who register)
• donate or sell at cost, in-kind services or products to a non-partisan non-profit that is doing voter engagement work

Some things to remember on the road to November!
Again, these activities are subject to federal and state law and we recommend that you consult with legal counsel prior to embarking on a Promote the Vote campaign.