Houston We Have An Opportunity!

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.