VOTER REGISTRATION, EDUCATION AND MOBILIZATION Bro. Abram Liles, Chairman abliles@gloryroad.net Bro. Kevin Brown, Co-Chairman kbomega@aol.net
The Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization Committee (VREM) is in its inaugural year of existence. Due to the timing and importance of the next election cycle, it will have a great impact on the fraternity and our community. Each district will have a member on the Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization Committee that will share strategies with all graduates and undergraduates chapters in their district. Omega Men will tackle a range of methods and mechanism for galvanizing and mobilizing members of our communities to go to the polls. All chapters, graduates and undergraduates, must be involved in this process. With every phone call we make, neighborhood we canvass, and every voter we register, we ve all have an opportunity to help win 2012 election and none of us can sit on the sidelines. Volunteers working in neighborhood teams to organize their communities are the foundation of our organization.
1) Each International Chairman from each district will present their VREM Plan 2) Work as a team to increase the number of registered voters in each state 3) Encourage all members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to become more aggressive in leading and mobilizing efforts to ensure a high voter turnout in upcoming 2012 elections. 4) Increase awareness of strategies to be implemented resulting in participation from 100% of the Districts in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 5) Foster communication between each District s International VREM Committee Chairman 6) Designate a Brother to lead Those Voting Ques in their community or on their campus 7) Utilize the Social Media during VREM process 8) Use the Omega Website, Oracle and Omega Bulletin to communicate VREM information 9) Develop a reporting system to show and keep a tally on the number of voters registered by Omega Men 10) Establish timeline goals for the number of voters registered by the end of December 2011, May Primary and Democratic National Convention
1) Are you registered to vote? 2) Do you know where your polling place is? 3) Do you have relatives, friends, or acquaintances who have recently turned 18? 4) Do you know someone who has moved since the last election and may not have re-registered? 5) Do you know people who have become US citizens within the last few years?
Q: Am I eligible to vote? A: To register to vote in this state, a person must sign a voter declaration attesting that: I am a US Citizen I will have been a resident of North Carolina and this county for 30 days before the election I will be at least 18 years old by the next general election I am not registered nor will I vote in any other county or state If I have been convicted of a felony, my rights of citizenship have been restored
Q: Where do I vote? A: Your polling place will be close to where you live. You can find out where to vote: At the Board of Elections in the state where you live Call your county Board of Elections office Note that Early Voting Sites may differ from your local neighborhood polling locations Q: What is voter registration? A: You need to be on the official list before you can vote. If you are not already registered, you can add your name to the list by filling out a voter registration application. When you fill out he application, you must give the current mailing address where you are currently living at the time of the election.
Q: How do I register to vote? Send a written request to your county board of elections office no later than the last Tuesday before the election. The request should include your name, residence address, date of birth, signature, and address where you would like the ballots mailed if different from your residence address. Call or email your county board of elections office to request an application for an absentee ballot. Near relatives may also request absentee using the same format as above with the addition of the relationship to the voter and the near relative s contact information. A: Fill out a voter registration application and return it in person or by mail to your county board of election office. Voter registration cards need to be received 25 days prior to the election. You may also register to vote when you apply for or renew your driver s license or ID card. Mail-in voter registration forms available through public libraries and high schools. Forms may be obtained at these locations, completed, and mailed to your county board of elections office. Q: Can I vote by absentee ballot? A: Yes. To vote by absentee ballot:
Requirements to Register: Be a US Citizen Be eighteen (18) years old by the General Election. They may register and vote in the primary for that election at age 17. Be a resident of your state and the county for 30 days or more before Election Day NOT be a convicted felon still in custody, on probation, or parole from any federal or state jurisdiction. Once citizenship is restored, the person can re-register to vote. NOT be registered to vote in any other county or state Required Fields: Legal Name Physical and Mailing Address Date of Birth Driver s License or last four digits of their social security number Signature of Voter
Any voter who register for the first time by mail must provide a driver s license number or the last four digits of their social security number. If they do not have one, they must submit a copy of an ID with the application or show it before they can vote. Accepted Forms of ID Copy of current and valid photo identification Copy of one of the following documents that shows the name and current address of the voter: a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document Registration forms are used to: Register to vote Change Party Affiliation Change address/name
Responsibilities: Do not coerce, threaten, or intimidate any person registering to vote Do not give them any advice on selecting a party. Remain neutral. Get the voter to complete the form. If they are unable to do so and you assist them, place information on the form that accurately reflects the intent and direction of the person. Do not alter any information on the form without the permission of the person registering. If you do, please place a line through it. It is best to have the person registering line through it and initial. Provide the voter additional forms if they need to take home. Remind them that all forms must be returned to the Board of Elections office (date to be determined). Failure to do so could be punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor. Do not complete a form for a voter. If they do not complete it, return it to the Board of Elections so they can contact the voter to get the information. In some cases you can write on the form if the voter request you fill it out for them as they give you the information. THEY MUST SIGN IN ALL CASES! Try to get a contact phone number in the event the Board of Elections has any questions for the voter.
VOTER REGISTRATION DON TS Never mention a candidate s or party s name If asked how you plan to vote, do not answer the question If you are asked what party you prefer, do not answer the question. Rather explain that your purpose is to promote the democratic process and not particular candidates VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE TIPS
VOTER REGISTRATION DOS Choose your target audience and location on a non-partisan basis. (You can target low-income, minority, low turnout, women or student populations) Inform the public on the importance of voting If it is all possible, it is possibly a good idea to have at least two people present at your registration table If you plan to use issue advocacy to motivate potential voters, keep the issues broad or be sure you identify a wide range of issues HAVE FUN! VOTER REGISTRATION DO S & DON TS
Several days before the event, compile a list of several locations that may be good for voter registration. GOOD STAGING LOCATIONS SHOULD: Be easily accessible to all volunteers Clearly visible from the street and road Have an area available for volunteers to park Be able to accommodate a large number of volunteers Have a functioning bathroom VOTER REGISTRATION EVENT CHEAT SHEET
Have an area with the necessary materials prepared in advance Your state Voter Registration forms Clipboards Blue/Black Pens Directions to/from voter registration sites Name tags to identify volunteers while out registering voters Sign-in sheets (Name, Address, Phone, Email) Voter registration wall chart EVENT CHECKLIST
Thank volunteers for their time Have a system in place to train volunteers and get them out of the door as quickly as possible Share best practices with volunteers Make sure every volunteer has the canvass captain s phone number to check in Check in with volunteers to make sure everything is okay. Sometimes you may need to re-direct volunteers if they are not having success at their original location. Give volunteers an ask goal. Ask x number of people vs. a registration goal. Invite volunteers to come back for the next event Organize a space for completed forms and I m cards DURING THE EVENT Be FLEXIBLE!
Count the number of completed voter registration you ve collected and make sure the that number matches the number tallied on your canvass wall chart. Secure all sign-in sheets and the canvass wall chart for later review Have a plan to get the completed forms data entered and to the Board of Election in a timely manner Email your volunteers to thank them and to give them the results of the canvass. Also let them know of upcoming opportunities to volunteer. AFTER THE EVENT
1) The best places to do voter registration are places where lots of people gather. Places that are both high traffic and non-disruptive, where freshmen get their ID pictures taken. 2) Captive audiences classes, people waiting in lines 3) A stationary audience, athletic events, parts, Laundromats 4) Moving crowds festivals (Greek Fest), community events (family reunions) and campuses REGISTERING VOTERS!
Event Number of Volunteers Concerts/Festivals/Shows 20+ Athletic Events 20+ (Depending on Size) Barbershops/Beauty Salons 2 DMVs Places where people wait in line to pay parking tickets or other bills Citizenship Graduations 3-4 Social Service Centers 2-3 Churches 10-20 (Depending on Size) Halfway Houses 2 High Schools & Colleges 20+ (Depending on Size) Laundromats 2 Dining Halls Activities Fairs Meeting of other student organizations 2-3 IDEAS FOR SITES
Anything can turn into a great opportunity for voter registration. Most students DO want to register and DO want to vote. Often, the barriers for these firsttime voters are simply logistical and informational. They need to know when and how to vote. You are going to provide that guidance and support. And you are going to be the reason that your generation participates in our democracy. You should feel very proud of what you are doing. BE CREATIVE!!!!!!
The President is taking aggressive steps to put Americans back to work and restore middle-class security for decades to come. For years before the economic crisis, middle-class security had been slipping away. Wages stagnated while health care costs soared. We ve added back nearly 2.6 million private sector jobs as of September 2011, but there s more work to do. President Obama successfully fought the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act to provide benefit and retaining to workers who have seen their jobs move overseas. President Obama provided tax incentives and made investments in clean energy technologies such as wind turbines and advanced car batteries. THE PRESIDENT S RECORD ON JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
President Obama signed into law an update to the post-9/11 GI. Bill, which makes it easier for National Guard members who performed active service to qualify for benefits, and allows for education benefits to be transferred to family members. President Obama is investing $2 billion in competitive grants to reform community colleges, supporting partnerships between community colleges and employers to provide pathways to good jobs. President Obama made college more affordable by doubling funding for Pell Grants, increasing the number of recipients from 6 million in 2008 to 9 million in 2011. This was achieved in part by eliminating billions of dollars in federal subsidies to banks acting as middlemen from the college-loan programs. Teachers, nurses and members of the armed forces will have their student loans forgiven after 10 years of they make repayment on time. THE PRESIDENT S RECORD ON EDUCATION
President Obama believes that America prospers when we re all in it together, and he s expanded opportunity for every American by taking steps to level the playing field so everybody plays by the same rules. The President signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, making progress in a decades-long battle for women to get equal pay for equal work. The Department of Justice revised the Americans with Disabilities Act rules to ensure newly designed, built, or renovated public facilities are accessible to all Americans. President Obama repealed Don t Ask, Don t Tell, allowing gay men and women to serve openly in our armed forces. THE PRESIDENT S RECORD ON EQUAL RIGHTS
President Obama has made the protecting environment a priority, moving us toward energy independence, investing in clean energy jobs, and taking steps to improve the quality of our air and water. As of November 2010, the Obama administration's policies have helped the private sector create 1 million jobs through public investments that jump-started additional private investment-nearly quarter of those jobs in the clean energy industry. The clean energy sector creates the jobs of today and tomorrow, helps protect the environment, and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. President Obama signed a law that provides for one of the largest expansions of federally protected wilderness in decades. THE PRESIDENT S RECORD ON ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
President Obama passed the Affordable Care Act to restore health care as a basic cornerstone of middle-class security in America. When fully implemented, the Affordable Care Act will keep insurance companies from taking advantage of consumers including denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and cancelling coverage when someone gets sick. The Affordable Care Act will make health care more affordable for families and small businesses and brings much-needed transparency to the insurance industry. Because of the new law, 35 million more Americans will be able to afford insurance coverage for the first time. Ninety-five percent of Americans under age 65 will have insurance. THE PRESIDENT S RECORD ON HEALTH CARE
President Obama has refocused the United States efforts on defeating Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. More of al-qaeda s senior leadership has been captured or killed in the last three years including the group s leader, Osama bin Laden, than at any time since the 9/11 attacks. President Obama has begun to bring home our troops from Afghanistan as we transition to Afghan security and leadership. THE PRESIDENT S RECORD ON NATIONAL SECURITY
President Obama has successfully fought to cut taxes for middle-class families and small businesses. Nearly all working families received a tax cut. For too long, the U.S. tax code has benefited the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of the vast majority of Americans. That's why President Obama proposed the Buffett Rule, asking millionaires and billionaires to do their fair share of taxes. But if you're one of the 98 percent of American families who make under $250,000 a year, your taxes won t go up. The President has called for reforming our tax code and closing tax loopholes for millionaires and billionaires as well as hedge-fund managers, private jet owners and oil companies. THE PRESIDENT S RECORD ON TAXES
FOCUS on three areas UNDERSTAND voting TRAIN your volunteers PREPARE a calendar MEET your local board of electors and your state s election official PLAN for deadlines and election dates DEVELOP a database SHARE information and resources EVALUATE what worked and didn t CELEBRATE and THANK everyone who was involved!