Non-Profits, Voting and Elections
A Guide for 501c3 Organizations

This publication of MassVOTE and the Center for Nonprofits and Voting explains how nonprofits can help register, educate and mobilize the vote by clearly explaining the "Dos" and "Don'ts" of engagement. The 501(c)(3) guide answers non-profit's basic questions about doing non-partisan voter work to increase participation and strengthen our democracy. Newly revised for 2005.

Massachusetts Election Protection 2004: Securing the Voting Rights of our Communities
Findings of a Poll Monitoring, Voter Surveying and Legal Hotline Project in 11 Massachusetts Cities on Election Day, November 2, 2004

In November 2004, the Election Protection project sent more than 600 volunteers to monitor 232 polling locations and survey voters in 11 Massachusetts cities. Volunteers documented that over 3,000 voters (8.7%) of the approximately 41,000 voters observed, were not allowed to cast a regular ballot. This suggests that of the 3 million people who voted in Massachusetts, anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 voters were likely disenfranchised at the polls.

Urban Voters go to the Polls
Comparing Voter Turnout in Massachusetts Cities: 2000 to 2004

MassVOTE celebrates gains in voter turnout over the last presidential election—most impressive in cities like Boston and Chelsea where voter turnout had already posted large increases in 2000. The study also looks at voter turnout patterns in Brockton, Lowell, Lynn Somerville, Springfield and Worcester.