Q: Why should I participate in Voteworks?
A: Voter participation is as American as running a business. By getting involved, not only will your company be viewed by your employees and customers as a good corporate citizen, but it will also be viewed as a business that cares about our American democracy. Plus, your activities can help boost morale since your employees will be rallying around an important cause. And that's good for business.

Q: How do I participate in Voteworks?
A: The first thing to do is email info@voteworks.org to sign up as a participating business. Then visit the tools section to learn about the various ways to get involved, samples of what other companies are doing and a list of resources. Voteworks also has a team that can help you design a program that best fits your company's needs.

Q: Will my participation make a difference?
A: Absolutely! You are making a big difference in at least three ways. First, if there's one thing we learned from the last election, every vote matters. We also learned it matters who wins and loses. Your efforts may help decide the next President, Member of Congress, council member or ballot issue. Second, when people don't vote, politicians don't need to be accountable. Third, encouraging people to participate in the election process will get them more connected to our democracy and more engaged in civic life. That helps build stronger communities and a healthier society.

Q: How will my customers respond?
A: Increasingly, customers view businesses as more than just a provider of goods and services. Companies big and small recognize that building a corporate image around community and civic engagement can also be good for the bottom line. Voting, and encouraging others to participate in the democratic process, is a patriotic act.

Q: How do I ensure my employees participate?
A: Participation must be completely voluntary. For those who do want to take part, it's important that you be clear about which activities are permissible and which ones are not. Voteworks has materials to help you.

Q: Isn't this mixing business and politics?
A: No. It is essential that your voter engagement project not be partisan in any way. Read Voteworks Legal & Appropriate page to find out more.

Q: How much time will this take?
A: Voteworks has made it as easy as possible to participate, and there are a range of activities that can fit the needs of any business. Activities run the gamut, from simply encouraging your employees to register to vote to distributing voter registration material, to putting a link on your company website for volunteer opportunities, to giving employees time off to vote. Whatever your time and level of interest, Voteworks can help you design a program for you.

Q: Legally, what can and can't I do for a voter participation project?
A: Voteworks has easy-to-understand materials that at a high level lay out the types of things a company can and can't do, and we note where you should check with state guidelines. Note that we are not suggesting that we are providing legal counsel or advise here. We recommend you consult your legal counsel, and Voteworks can recommend lawyers knowledgeable in election-related issues if you need one.