Rules of the Game: Election Protection
On this episode of Rules of the Game, we rebroadcast from 2022, focusing on election protection and nonpartisan voter assistance. We discuss how nonprofits, particularly 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, can engage in election protection activities while staying compliant with tax and election laws.
Attorneys For This Episode
Key Election Protection Activities Include:
- Poll monitoring,
- Voter education,
- Ballot curing,
- Staffing election protection hotlines, and
- Providing rides to the polls.
For 501(c)(3) organizations, these efforts must remain strictly nonpartisan, while 501(c)(4)s have more flexibility to engage in partisan activities like ballot curing for specific candidates or parties.
We also cover:
- The importance of complying with federal and state laws.
- For example, avoiding incentives for voter registration or violating state-specific rules regarding voter assistance and election protection.
- Our practical voter assistance guides created in partnership with the Democracy Capacity Project, covering compliance rules for several key states.