Download this handout: Election Advocacy Tips
Participating at the polls is an important part of our democracy. Whether voting for the candidate who will best champion the causes you care about, or voting on a ballot initiative, election day is a great time to exercise your rights!
- Find out where you will be voting: https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org. There you can also find a sample ballot where you can see what races and ballot measures to expect.
- Decide on what issues your vote will be determined. When it comes to elections, what issues get you to the polls? What topics do you want to hear candidates’ stance on? Develop questions for candidates based on the things you care most about.
- Do your research on candidates and their positions. When learning about candidates’ positions on issues, go to their social media and website pages. Look in newspapers. Email them or call them to ask them their position on an issue or go to candidate forums. Local political parties host forums near the primary elections. And civic groups, like League of Women Voters, also host forums and invite candidates to speak at events. Can’t attend in person? Many forums are often available on live streaming video.
- Use elections as an opportunity to advocate on issues you care about. If there is an issue you are passionate about and want to advocate for at the Capitol, you can use candidate forums to raise awareness about an issue with the media and the general public by bringing it up with candidates. Another way to raise awareness about your issue it to create a onepager to share with candidates about your issue including a brief overview of the issue with a few key facts and maybe a personal story.
- Go vote! And remind your friends, family, and colleagues to go vote. If you are able, give someone a ride to the polls, if they need it.
- Nonprofits can participate in election advocacy, but laws apply. Go to bolderadvocacy.org to find out more. You can also go AACF’s advocacy guide to get tips for nonprofit election advocacy.
Download this handout: Election Advocacy Tips