Sunday, October 28, 2007

Nonprofit Law Podcast #20: Election season series - voter registration and GOTV

Election season series - voter registration and GOTV

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #20 (mp3, 10:39)

Shownotes

Intro

Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com
Email the show

Month long series on election activity

Focuses on public charities, other 501(c)s and 527s
Covering voter guides, debates & forums, renting mailing lists, ballot measures, and voter registration/GOTV
Why now? Many nonprofits are already planning 2008 and some are already engaged in it
Don't do any of these things? Still important to know in case something unexpected comes up

Voter registration -registering people to vote
GOTV - getting people to the polls, or otherwise aiding them to vote

501(c)(3)s
Purely nonpartisan
One permissible goal - getting people to exercise their right to vote
Permissible to target activities if based on nonpartisan criteria like location and audience
May not target based upon the way a group votes
May target if a disadvantaged or underrepresented group or targeted group has common interest
Do discuss a broad range of issues
Don’t suggest a correct position
Vote green. Register here. - NO
You can have an impact on the decisions affecting your life. Register to vote now. - YES
Let’s get out the pro-choice vote. Register here. - NO

Other 501(c)s
Partisan "slant" ok, but it would then count towards secondary activity, so watch amount

527s
Partisan "slant" ok

Resources

AFJ's Rules of the Game

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
AP audio & handbook on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit - go to nplawcast.com for details
Need more than a podcast? Tim-Mooney.com
nplawcast.com

This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.

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