SEPTEMBER 20 - 27Voter Registration Week of Action

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One of the easiest ways to combat voter suppression is to encourage everyone in your network to check their registration and request a ballot to vote by mail in advance of November.

This guide is a resource to plan your Voter Registration Week of action event fromSeptember 20 - 27. Please reference the Fall Week of Action Volunteer + Partner Guide forgeneral event planning support.

Here are some materials to make your experience as a Voter Registration Week of Actionhost easier:

• Agenda: a suggested outline of how your event could go

• Action Guide: Our voter registration action guide includes posters and a conversation guide to help register voters

• Worksheet: Designed to prompt your planning and get you ready to host

• Checklist: In the worksheet you’ll find a checklist to help you organize your event. Use this space to brainstorm the details and logistics you’ll need to think through

SAMPLE AGENDA — Voter Registration EventsThis is a suggestion—feel free to update or modify as needed.

ARRIVE AND MINGLEEven if your event is virtual, make this time feel fun and thoughtful!

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONIntroduce yourself and thank everyone for coming! Have your guests introduce themselves–this can just be their name and pronouns as they will get to know each other during your icebreaker.

SHARE YOUR STORYTake a couple minutes to share your own story and why you feel called to do voter registration in your community. Sharing stories is a great way to build relationships with guests in a new context. It’s a good time to talk about the urgency of the moment in voter participation and turnout.

ICEBREAKER ACTIVITYUse this opportunity to have a fun, brief icebreaker. This is the time to create a sense of community and joy. To get your event warmed up, plan a fun activity that you and your attendees can do together.

VOTER REGISTRATION ACTIVITYHere’s why you are hosting your event. The bulk of your time should be devoted to the action of voter registration. As you brainstorm what your activity will be, we’ve put together some ideas below to help guide your planning.

NEXT STEPS AND CLOSEThese events are about personal interactions and developing relationships. As a leader, you are in the best position of anyone to ask your friends and neighbors to get involved. How will this group stay updated and informed?

Virtual Voter Registration EventsIf you choose to host a virtual event, here are some activities you’ll do:

Walk through the When We All Vote Voting Resource Hub1. Enter your address and email and pledge to vote — get specific information about

your state’s ballot and resources.2. Check your registration to make sure you’re registered — Don’t assume you are! 3. Request a ballot to vote by mail — And do it IMMEDIATELY. Don’t wait until the

deadline in your state — request your ballot and return it as soon as you get it4. Research your ballot — Do this now and in the fall. Candidate research is ongoing, and

additional candidates will appear as information becomes available.

Complete the Map my Network activity with your participantsUse the Map My Network activity and guide to map out who needs to check their registration, register to vote, and walk through each of the steps you and your participants did in the step above. Use this time to announce to your participants that you’re looking to register at least 5-10 voters a piece!

Texting or phone campaignDuring your event, you may also choose to participate in the existing When We All Vote nationwide texting or phone campaign to reach voters to register to vote. Check out whenweallvote.org/events for text and phone campaigns.

In-person Voter Registration EventsIf you choose to host an in-person event, please abide by local CDC guidelines. Before your event, remember to print out our flyers with the voter registration QR code to reach voters safely and effectively. You can find our Voter Registration Action Guide flyer with the voter registration QR code at https://weall.vote/actionguide.

Below we describe five types of events you can host in the community — but feel free to make these as creative as you want!

EVENT EXAMPLES:

Table: This can be on a local college campus, farmer’s market, mall, local business, etc...Use the table and engage and educate individuals as they walk by.

A When We All Vote volunteer at a voter registrationtable featuring the registration QR code.

Partner with a community group: When volunteering with a local charity, shelter, food bank, place of worship, or community group, bring voter registration materials with you to help make sure all of those in your community have access to voter information.

When We All Vote volunteers partner with a local food drive to provide food to community members and ensure they’re registered and ready to vote.

Drive-thru: Throw a socially distant voter registration tailgate or drive-thru to register and share voter resources with your neighborhood!

When We All Vote volunteers partner with a local church to provide drive-thru registration opportunities for community members.

High Foot Traffic Event or rally: “Hitting the streets” is a more outgoing way of engaging potential voters with a voter registration ask as they wait in line or pass by. Think bus stops, farmers markets, festivals, parks/dog parks, and community events. You can also register voters at a local protest or rally!

A When We All Vote Voting Squad Captain hits the streets to make sure community members are registered and ready to vote with a When We All Vote voter registration flyer.

Workplace Voter Registration: Make sure your co-workers are ready and able to vote through 2020. Bring voter registration information to work with you for an easy socially distant activity!

QUESTIONS?If you have any questions, you can always reach out to us at volunteers@whenweallvote.org or post a message on the Voting Squad Captain Facebook page (our team checks this daily).

NOTE ON ORGANIZING DURING COVID-19: If you choose to host an in-person event, When We All Vote and #VoteTogether want you to do so safely —that’s why we strongly recommend that you follow local health guidelines, implement social distancing, wear masks, and bring sanitizer for in-person events. Check out the National Voter Registration Day Guide to Covid-proofing your in-person Voter Registration event for more information.

Additional Resources:In-person voter registration training one-pager

WELCOME AND THANKSIntroduce yourself and thank your volunteers for coming. Remind them to sign in. Ask participants to save questions for the end so that you can get started quickly.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE’RE DOING AND OUR GOALVery briefly explain your personal story and how voter registration is a crucial part of our work. Share your event goal — to register a minimum of 10 people per participant. The sky’s the limit here — but it’s important that people understand how much we value their contribution, and how their work ties into our larger goal.

PROCEDURES FOR THIS EVENTReview pages 1 and 2 of the When We All Vote Voter Registration and Conversation Guide with your participants — be sure to let them know that we are directing voters to register themselves online using a smartphone or smartpad via a QR code or a link (weall.vote/mysquadvotes). Find printable flyers for your participants here. Depending on the type of event you’re hosting, you may have special instructions to share at this point.

THE VOTER REGISTRATION CONVERSATIONReview pages 3 and 4 of the When We All Vote Voter Registration and Conversation Guide. Point out examples of effective and ineffective ways to ask people to register. Then, choose a willing volunteer and do a role play! Emphasize the importance of being persistent.

TIPS AND BEST PRACTICESReview the best practices in Appendix 2 with your participants

REVIEW HOW EACH PARTICIPANT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE EVENT COVID-SAFERemind each participant to socially distance, sanitize hands and surfaces, and to wear masks. For more information on this, please refer to the National Voter Registration Day Guide to Covid-proofing your in-person Voter Registration event.

GET FIRED UP!Fire up your participants to get out there with lots of (safe) energy to get people to vote. Re-emphasize your goal: “If each of us goes out there and registers X people, together we’ll meet our goal of X numbers of voters registered.” Remind your participants of the end time of the event, where you’ll reconvene and share your successes with each other.

Voter registration best practicesEvery state has different rules regarding voter registration and voter registration drives. That’s why it is important to follow your state’s Secretary of State guidelines and direct people toward the QR Code or link to register themselves online. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

EXPECTATIONSDon’t get discouraged if you don’t have dozens of people approaching you to register to vote. Voter registration is more successful when YOU start the conversation — either by proactively engaging someone at an event, or by picking up the phone and calling 10 friends. If someone doesn’t want to engage with you, be kind and thank them for listening. Stay positive!

HAVE A CONVERSATIONRegistering to vote can be an intimidating process to some, so be sure to have a genuine conversation with potential registrants. Ask questions and listen actively to their answers. Tips:

• Be approachable, and don’t wait to be approached• Have a friendly demeanor and speak with confidence• Make the ask, “When was the last time you updated your voter registration?” Never ask a

voter if they are registered to vote. Research shows that people are more likely to walk by when the question is phrased this way.

• Make eye contact.

STAY ON MESSAGEYou’re not telling them who to vote for, which political party to support, or suggesting that they vote for or against particular policy issues. You’re helping people gain access to participate in our democracy. It’s a positive way to celebrate civic engagement and build long-lasting relationships within your community.

FOLLOW UP AND BE PERSISTENT“I’m already registered” is a common response. Ask follow up questions and encourage people to check their registration anyways - many people need to be taken through this thought process:

• “When was the last time you updated your voter registration?”• “Are you registered at your current address?”• “Have you moved since you last registered?”• “Have you changed your name since you last registered?”

One of the easiest ways to combat voter suppression is to encourage everyone in your network to check their registration and request a ballot to vote by mail in advance of November.

ASK EVERYONE TO REGISTERBe sure to include everyone when recruiting participants to register themselves to vote. Don’t be afraid to have a respectful and engaging conversation.

• Best asks◦ When was the last time you updated your voter registration?◦ Can I help you update your voter registration?◦ Have you checked your voter registration status recently?

• Less effective asks◦ Are you registered to vote?◦ Would you like to register to vote?◦ Can I have a minute of your time?

Questions about your state’s rules?If you have questions about the rules in your state check out 866ourvote.org.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION VOLUNTEERS

1. Don’t assume anyone is registered, even if they are people you know! Voter registration experts and lawyers recommend that every voter checks their registration in advance of every election.

2. Make eye contact and conversation with potential voters.

3. Be outgoing and assertive; approach everyone and don’t wait to be approached.

4. The ask is everything, perfect it! Ask the question, “When was the last time your updated your voter registration?” as an introduction. It is an open-ended question, rather than a yes/no question.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask multiple questions. There are studies that show that some voters need to be asked in multiple ways before they register.

6. Assume everyone is not registered at their current address.

7. Be flexible — if your location isn’t working, switch it up!

8. Remember that helping someone register to vote is a service, not an inconvenience. Be confident and don’t think for a second that you are bothering people by approaching them.

9. Use the QR code to direct voters to register themselves. When We All Vote provides printable flyers.

10. If you don’t know an answer to a question, that’s ok! Direct voters to 866ourvote.org or to call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for state-specific information and voter protection resources.