In anticipation of our Nonprofit Power Engaging Voters for a More Inclusive Democracy, 2023 report (scheduled to be released later in the fall) Nonprofit VOTE has compiled three smaller installments each focusing on a target demographic engaged via our 2022 program. Featuring case studies from nonprofits on the ground engaging voters in their respective communities, this report serves as a testament to the power of nonprofits in closing voter participation gaps and highlights effective strategies for engaging voters in each targeted community. Check back for future updates.
See our 2020 Nonprofit Power: Engaging Voters for a More Inclusive Democracy Report here
Voter participation gaps along the lines of race, income, education level, and age distort our democracy and the policy debates that flow from it. These gaps, which are present in even the most voter-friendly states, are driven in large part by who is and is not contacted about voting. In an effort to close these gaps and foster a more representative electorate, we must establish civic ecosystems to engage currently underrepresented voices.
Nonprofit service providers are uniquely well-positioned to bring these voters into the fold and build a more inclusive and equitable democracy, due to their reputation as trusted messengers with deep communal roots. Through one-on-one conversations with the communities they serve, nonprofits like food pantries, health centers, housing clinics, and family service agencies are able to reach groups underrepresented at the polls. Furthermore, the nonpartisan voter engagement conducted by these nonprofits has its biggest turnout impact among these target groups contributing to a more representative electorate.
