Evidence

What is year-round organizing?

Flip the Vote directs funding toward grassroots organizations in key swing states that engage in year-round organizing. These groups build deep, sustained relationships within their communities year-round, thereby becoming trusted messengers for election information, including candidate recommendations. They do this in several key ways:

• Building sustained relationships with unregistered and low-propensity voters who are often neglected by traditional campaigns

• Listening to voters’ concerns

• Focusing early attention on local policy issues, which often have an immediate impact on voters’ lives and therefore motivate civic engagement

• Meeting the needs of their communities, including planning for potential ICE raids, helping people access government assistance programs, and hosting community events, thus building a foundation of trust with voters

• Advocating with elected officials and holding them accountable for their actions

Then, when election time rolls around:

• As organizations with partisan arms, they strategically target and mobilize voters who are most likely to support their preferred candidates and positions.

• They work on the ground to fight voter suppression by spreading awareness about any changes to voting laws and timelines, making sure voters have proper ID, and sending poll-watchers to ensure safety.

• They educate voters about their rights and the voting process.

• They motivate and mobilize voters to follow through and cast their ballots.

• They recommend specific candidates and measures at the federal, state, and local levels.

• As trusted messengers, they are uniquely positioned to counter mis- and dis-information through direct, credible communication.

• After the election, they work on “vote curing” to ensure that all valid ballots are counted.