By Jalissia Haynes

As Delaware’s midterm elections ramp up to election day, many nonprofits may be cautiously sitting on the sidelines anxiously awaiting the people’s decision on who will govern us in the next legislative session. However, 501c3 organizations do not have to play the role of passive bystanders nor should they! Because of the apolitical stance, 501c3 organizations must maintain, nonprofits are uniquely positioned to serve in nonpartisan roles during election cycles like voter education and registration, poll working, and even providing rides to the polls. In this extremely polarized political climate, nonprofits should be helping as many people as possible exercise this important right.

While there are important stipulations about the ways in which nonprofits can engage in the political process, there are clear spaces for nonprofits to participate like those listed above without risking their IRS designation. Most 501c3 organizations serve a primarily educational purpose and may not see politics as germane to that mission despite being affected by it. Nonprofits, however, are allowed to extend that educational role into politics. 501c3 organizations can engage in any number of informative activities as long as they are not endorsing or critiquing a specific candidate. Nonprofits can support voter education not only by informing them of and helping them exercise their right to vote but also through disseminating information on the candidates as long as they do so for all candidates. The key to nonprofit civic engagement is uniformity for all candidates. If an organization invites a candidate to speak to members, they must allow the same opportunity to all candidates. For more information on ways nonprofits can safely engage in the political process and encourage civic engagement among its clients explore Stand for Your Mission, which curates resources on the many ways nonprofits can engage, advocate, and even lobby for their missions.

Last but not least, there are already organizations out there doing incredible work helping voters navigate polls like the League of Women Voters and Vote411. However, the last legislative session ended with some new rules for the upcoming election which are explained in-depth in the above links and outlined here. This election season, consider the ways in which your organization can empower Delawareans to participate in our democratic process.

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Ways Nonprofits can support Get Out To Vote

            Sharing information on the following:

• Voter Registration:
  • New election laws allow voter registration up to and including election day
    • some polling locations will provide same day registration
  • register and confirm registration and polling location at Delaware Department of Elections
    
• Voter Education:
  • Along with the elimination of registration deadlines, DE now allows early in person voting up to 10 days (including weekends) before Election Day
  • Early in-person Voting
    • Begin General Election: Oct 28
    • Early voting locations and schedules are listed here
      
• Vote by Mail
  • Oct. 7^th Delaware Supreme Court ruling decided vote by mail is unconstitutional.
  • Mail in ballots will not be accepted in the upcoming November election
    
• Poll working
  • Information on how to become a poll worker

• General Election recruitment dates are as follows:

11am to 7pm	7am to 7pm
Oct. 28	Nov. 2
Oct. 29	Nov. 3
Oct. 30	Nov. 4
Nov. 1	Nov. 5
	Nov. 6

• Coordinate rides to the polls if your organization has the resources to do so.

• Voting locations
  • New Castle:
  • Kent
  • Sussex