The 2013 municipal general election and
subsequent runoff election was a stark reminder that voting isn’t a priority
for a majority of Houstonians. The general election garnered an appalling 13.2% voter turnout and the runoff an abysmal 3.7%. Put that into perspective of the 1.9
million registered and eligible voters only 260k voted in the general election
and of the 980k registered and eligible only, 36.5k voted in the runoff.
The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life
at UT Austin this past year released the “Texas Civic Health Index Report” which is a comprehensive look at civic and
political engagement across the state of Texas. In that report 63% of eligible Texans reported as having
been registered to vote, but in the 2010 statewide election only 36% said that
they had voted. According to a
study done by Nonprofit Vote, a national nonprofit organization that focuses
its work on engaging nonprofits in civic and voter engagement, Texas ranked last in voter participation and turnout in the
2012 presidential election. For
whatever reason - be it lack of time or voter apathy – Houstonians aren’t
getting to the polls.
Where we go from here is critical. I, along with my colleagues are working
to build a culture of civic engagement in our most disenchanted and often
forgotten neighborhoods. We
believe that if we want to see a real and continued increase in the number of
Houstonians participating in elections the nonprofit and social service
agencies, NOT our political campaigns and candidates running for public office,
that will drive that change.
Looking back there are plenty of examples in
“social change” history of our country where nonprofit and social service
agencies played a significant role in moving legislation, building movements,
and mobilizing voters. In the
1920’s it was the National American Women Suffrage Association who worked
successfully in securing women’s right to vote, in the 1930’s the Townsend
Clubs got Congress to pass the Social Security Act, and the Civil Rights Act of
1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were efforts lead by Americas nonprofit
and faith based community.
We
can’t rely on campaigns. Campaigns have limited funds and
“turning out” low propensity voters is expensive and time consuming. Dollars, time after time, are used to
ensure candidate or party-voting bases makes it to the polls. This focus leaves low propensity voters
out of the equation, and often campaigns and candidates get negative turning
off already disconnected populations.
Answering
the call. It is a common misconception that nonprofits
and 501(c)(3) organizations can’t participate in voter engagement and advocacy
work on behalf of their clients. Nonprofit
organizations can in fact partake in civic voter engagement activities like
anyone else; from registering voters, to following up with Election Day
reminders, to driving voters to the polls. Nonprofit VOTE, and the 90+ organizations they partnered with, was immensely
successful in increasing voter participation - on average between 15 and 18
points higher - in seven states during the 2012 general election. Nonprofits deliver a nonpartisan,
positive message about the importance of voting that resonates with would be
voters. You take out the
negativity and the fear mongering and suddenly people begin to listen. Coupled with basic voter education
and tools provided by larger organizations and you have a relationship that
produces positive results.
We as nonprofits and social service agencies need to work on
fostering a spirit - within our clients and communities – that is empowered and
civically active. By integrating
civic and voter engagement activities in a meaningful way into day-to-day
services helps build familiarity.
You and your organization are the best entity to build this familiarity
because you have a trust with your clients that non campaign or candidate could
ever have. The best place for this
integration work is in your community outreach programs and events, client case
management, and organization intake avenues.
Houston needs a renewed collective and effective response to
the paralyzing low voter participation rate in this city. We can no longer tolerate mediocre
voter turnout that leaves individuals, neighborhoods, and whole communities out
of the policy and decision making process.
Understand that when our clients, our families, and the people
we work with every day – when they are engaged and empowered to act, to vote,
to participate our jobs become so much easier. The conversation changes. The PTA at school becomes more active. The dedicated volunteer list
grows. Suddenly decisions makers
take notice of what we have known all along. We then will witness that hope that we each have for our
clients unfold before our eyes.
Advocacy is giving people, who’re not normally included, a seat at the
table during decision-making for change.