This summer, Project Vote has been helping state and national groups get their communities registered to vote by hosting trainings on the best practices of running community-based voter registration drives.
The trainings are designed to “promote effective, transparent, and successful voter registration drives, and to support organizations and community groups who want to help enfranchise youth, minority, or low-income communities,” said Project Vote Deputy Field Director Rebekah Enoch.
Conducted by Rebekah, Deputy Field Director Chris Talley, and Project Vote’s General Counsel Brian Mellor, the trainings cover voter registration laws, provide guidance on how to manage a team of canvassers, and emphasize the importance of implementing a quality control system.
“Quality control systems make sure the applications that are collected are accurate, complete, and ready to be accepted by election offices,” said Rebekah. The quality control process also helps drives watch out for problematic or fraudulent cards.
Trainings can either be an intensive two-day workshop on best practices or a weeklong training. The longer training allows participants to actually put into practice things discussed in the workshop, including time spent in the field canvassing potential voters. “The field time is such a great part of those sessions, as nothing really sinks in like firsthand experience,” said Rebekah.
“So, when there is time for that, the whole experience is richer and more complete.” So far, trainings have been held in Illinois, New York, and North Carolina. A webinar is being offered to Pennsylvania groups in early September.
“The best general advice I have for any individuals or organizations wanting to do a voter registration drive is to know your local laws about who can register to vote and how you can help them,” said Rebekah. “Contact your election official’s office if you aren’t sure about the rules, and make sure you stay organized with your paperwork and submissions.”
Most importantly, Rebekah advises canvassers to just “be yourself.”
“That genuine passion and energy to help people get their voices heard is the most winning quality you have, so use it,” she said.