Voter Engagement Resources
What Nonprofits Can Do to Support Democracy
Nonprofits continue to play a critical role in supporting a democracy where every voice is heard and every vote gets counted. In the Commonwealth, one in ten Kentuckians is employed by a nonprofit – over 178,000 jobs. If we come together around a common cause – such as voter engagement – we will transform our collective future.
In our everyday busyness, we often relegate lobbying and engaging with our elected officials to the end of our task list. However, many nonprofits exist because of inequitable laws, regulations, policies, and practices. Thus, we must prioritize this work. As a 501(c)(3), your organization can lobby and promote civic engagement with every level of government – local, state, and federal. You are a trusted resource in your community. You have earned that trust. Now is the time to use it.
Important Dates
| September 15 | National Voter Registration Day (Learn more) |
| September 17 | KNN Virtual Town Hall Meeting: Nonpartisan Voter Engagement for KY Nonprofits, featuring Secretary of State Michael Adams (Register) |
| September 23 | Lexington Nonprofit Coalition hosts: Meet the Candidates (Register) |
| October 5 | KY Voter Registration Deadline (4pm local time) at govote.ky.gov |
| October 7 | Louisville Nonprofit Coalition hosts: Meet the Candidates (Register) |
| October 20 | Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot at govote.ky.gov (excuse required) |
| October 21-23, 26-28 | In-person, excused absentee voting in KY (excuse required) (see polling locations at govote.ky.gov) |
| October 29-31 | In-person, no excuse absentee/early voting in KY (anyone may vote early for any reason; no excuse required) (see polling locations at govote.ky.gov) |
| November 3 | Election Day (see your polling location at govote.ky.gov) |
Upcoming Events
KNN Virtual Town Hall Meeting: Nonpartisan Voter Engagement for Kentucky Nonprofits
Thursday, September 17, 10:30am ET on Zoom
Nonprofits can play an important role in nonpartisan voter education and engagement! Our Virtual Town Hall Meeting will help prepare your nonprofit for meaningful work with insights from KNN, Nonprofit VOTE, and the Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams. This timely conversation will highlight key information about the upcoming election, offer practical guidance for educating and engaging voters, and explore important legal considerations for nonprofit civic engagement. Participants will also get a look at the latest Kentucky Nonprofit Voter Engagement Guide and leave with tools and resources to help their organizations support informed, nonpartisan participation in their communities.
Lexington Nonprofit Coalition hosts: Meet the Candidates
Wednesday, September 23, 5:00pm in Lexington
Join the Lexington Nonprofit Coalition for a Meet the Candidates event with candidates running for Urban County Council. Participants will have the opportunity to network with candidates and then we will hear about their priorities for improved city partnerships and engagement with nonprofits. Nonprofits are significant employers and service providers, and stronger partnerships with the city are critical for nonprofits to help the city ensure a Lexington where everyone thrives. Join us to hear from the candidates! Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Louisville Nonprofit Coalition hosts: Meet the Candidates
Wednesday, October 7, 5:00pm in Louisville
Join the Louisville Nonprofit Coalition for a meet and greet with your candidates for Metro Council. Nonprofits serve every Metro Council district and this is an opportunity to connect, learn, and move Louisville forward together! Candidates are invited to speak to nonprofit sector priorities, including Metro Government partnerships and engagement with local nonprofits. Following, candidates will have a designated table for an opportunity to connect 1-1 with attendees serving or living in their districts. Join us to hear from our future Council Members!
Checklist of allowable activities that 501(c)(3) organizations can engage in:
- Invite ALL representatives, including candidates, to your events. Use this opportunity to promote your mission.
- Invite ALL representatives, including candidates, to take a tour of your facilities. Use this opportunity to tell them about how you support their local community.
- Meet with ALL currently elected representatives in their district offices.
Caveat: Do not meet with candidates in their campaign headquarters.
Nonprofits play an important role in getting folks registered to vote, and despite many myths, nonprofits CAN effectively engage in nonpartisan election activites and maintain their tax-exempt status.
- Routinely ask those who engage with you daily if they have registered to vote and offer guidance to those who need it.
- Hold a voter registration drive at your nonprofit or at a community event.
- Encourage voter registration in your communications, on your website, and at your events.
- Remind people of registration deadlines and dates.
- Participate in National Voter Registration Day – a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. Since 2012, the annual event has created broad awareness of voter registration opportunities to reach tens of thousands of voters who may not register otherwise.
- According to U.S. Census data from 2020, as many as 1 in 4 eligible Americans are not registered to vote. Every year, millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don’t update their registration, or aren’t sure how to register. National Voter Registration Day wants to make sure EVERYONE has the opportunity to vote.
- Click here to register for a free Town Hall Meeting recording where our speakers discuss Nonprofit Voter Registration Day and other voter engagement info!
- Provide information about when and where to vote – finding the right precinct, obtaining an absentee ballot, and contacting local election offices.
- Remind people about election deadlines and dates.
- The Kentucky Secretary of State always has the latest, most up-to-date information.
- Currently, in Kentucky, all employers are required by law to provide their staff time off to vote; however it does not have to be paid. We know that not being able to take time off to vote (or not being aware of “time off to vote” policies) can be a barrier for potential voters. Offering unpaid time off to vote is better than nothing (and it is required by Kentucky law), but it can make employees have to choose between voting and their paycheck.
- Provide transportation if needed.
- Make Election Day fun! Celebrate a democracy where every vote is counted and every voice is heard. Share your celebration ideas with us to inspire KNN members.
- Join KNN and other partners in committing to offer your employees paid time off to vote – click here to sign on as a Nonprofit Staff Vote partner. Click here to register for a free Town Hall Meeting recording where our speakers discuss the Nonprofit Staff Vote initiative and other voter engagement info!
On election day, provide transportation to the polls for clients, staff, and volunteers.
- Draft 1-5 questions around issues that matter to your mission and cause. (The 1-5 is intended to keep the questionnaire manageable for both you and candidates who participate.)
- Send the questions in an electronic format to ALL candidates.
- Publish the full answers from all the participating candidates on your website.
- Nonprofit VOTE provides great resources – click here to check them out!
- Click here to see examples from our colleagues in Pennsylvania – one for candidates running for state office and the other for congressional candidates.
There is one simple rule for nonprofits when engaging in election activity: invite ALL the candidates to your forum. Even if all do not show up, ensure you have given all an equal opportunity to engage.
- Host a candidate forum either on your own, or better yet, in partnership with a trusted community partner, and invite candidates to speak on issues that matter to you.
- Use a panel format where you ask the questions you want answered.
- Ensure that all participants are given equal times to speak.
- Nonprofit VOTE provides great resources – click here to check them out!
- Ballot questions can be confusing and often need interpretation about what a “yes” or “no” ultimately means to the furtherance of your mission. Distribute a nonpartisan voter guide from a trusted partner on what is on the ballot.
- Nonprofit VOTE provides great resources – click here to check them out!
Unlike distributing information promoting/opposing specific candidates, nonprofits may take sides on ballot measures. IRS rules treat this like a lobbying activity, not electioneering (which is endorsement of candidates – your nonprofit is not allowed to endorse candidates).
- Have your board take a position for or against a question on the ballot.
- Educate the public on your position within your normal lobbying limits.
- Engage your community leaders and residents in conversations about impact of a ballot measure at the neighborhood, county, or state level.
- Nonprofit VOTE provides great resources – click here to check them out!
Continue to advocate and lobby for issues related to pending legislation or issues related to your mission – as long as it is not timed or structured to influence how people vote for specific candidates.
We Can Do This –
We Must Do This
Encouraging everyone to fully participate in our democratic system is not political. Nonprofits have an opportunity to work together to protect the unalienable rights of every human, and KNN is proud to be doing this work in partnership with you.
