Nonprofits and Elections

Voting is a critical part of our democracy. On the ballot in November 2020 will be the races for President, one of Minnesota’s Senate seats, all of our eight U.S. House of Representatives seats, as well as all 201 seats in the Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Supreme and appellate court judges, school boards, and city and county races.

As nonprofits, it is our role to advocate for better voting policies and increased access to the polls to eliminate barriers a person may face to voting. Let’s make 2020 a year where we support even more communities to get out to the polls.

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) is here to help with questions you have regarding elections, as well as support your organization in your civic engagement activities, so please reach out to us! Plus, look out for our upcoming election trainings.

Questions or comments?
If you have any questions or comments about nonprofits and elections — or any of the events or resources listed below — please contact Ileana Mejia, MCN public policy advocate.

MCN Events

Training	Details	Date
So you want to work on elections?	This training is focused on what nonprofits can and can’t do to increase voter turnout for elections. Audience: nonprofits who are new to Get Out the Vote (GOTV) and/or need a refresher on laws.	Monday, June 22 12 - 1 p.m. Learn more
All you need to know about elections, nonprofits, and more!	This training is focused on equipping nonprofits with information and tools, plus nonprofit-to-nonprofit interaction. Audience: Nonprofit leaders who have a good understanding of GOTV and want more in-depth information on voter registration and rights	Tuesday, July 14 12 - 1 p.m. Learn more
So you want to work on elections?	This training is focused on what nonprofits can and can’t do. Audience: nonprofits who are new to GOTV and/or need a refresher on laws.	Monday, August 17 12 - 1 p.m. Learn more
Nonprofits GOTV Panel Forum	You’re invited to join us for a panel with nonprofits who are working on voter engagement. They’ll share strategies and answer questions you have about how to best engage your communities.	Tuesday, September 8 12 - 1 p.m. More coming soon
All you need to know about elections, nonprofits, and more!	This training is focused on equipping nonprofits with information and tools, plus nonprofit-to-nonprofit interaction. Audience: Nonprofit leaders who have a good understanding of GOTV and want more in-depth information on voter registration and rights	Monday, September 14 12 - 1 p.m. Learn more
What the Elections Mean for Nonprofits	Join us after election day for an analysis of our newly elected Minnesota legislators and what issues they care about.	Thursday, November 5 12 - 1 p.m. More coming soon

What can nonprofits do to support elections?

Encourage your communities to register to vote — registering increases the chance of a person voting.
Never assume that someone is eligible to vote or that they are already registered.
Integrate accessible information about voter registration and voting rights into your everyday programs!
Inform constituents about primary elections, voting absentee, and early voting.
Match your messages to the communities you work with — you are best equipped to do this!
Center historically disenfranchised communities — Black, Indigenous, and people of color are some of the communities that have historically experienced the highest barriers to voting because of the lack of language access, funding for elections, reduced voting hours, and voter ID requirements. Nonprofits can work to eliminate barriers for disenfranchised communities through advocacy and through informing voters of their rights. Additionally, nonprofit can inform voters why voting is a powerful way to shape the communities they live in.

Election Resources for Nonprofits

Elections Timeline

June 26, 2020 – August 10: Vote by mail or in person for the primary election
July 21, 2020: Last day to register in advance to vote for Primary Election Day
August 11, 2020: Primary Election Day
September 18, 2020 – November 2, 2020: Vote by mail or in person for Election Day
October 13, 2020: Last day to register in advance to save time on Election Day
November 3, 2020: General Election Day

*In Minnesota you can vote early (absentee) 46 days before Election Day. You can do so via mail or in person.

Looking for specifics on how to vote?

Register to Vote

In order to vote, a person must be a registered voter at their current address and be:

a U.S. citizen
at least 18 years old on Election Day
a resident of Minnesota for 20 days
finished with all parts of any felony sentence

You can work with your communities to register to vote online, on paper with a canvasser, or on Election Day! The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office is a great resource for all of your voter registration and elections questions.

Nonprofits and Elections