ACTION PLAYBOOK

Register to Vote
(You + Your Friends!)

Step 1. Ensure you’re registered to vote!

This is like putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others. We can’t champion voter registration when we haven’t determined our own registration status! Confirm that you’re registered to vote at your current address. If you’re not, you need to re-register using the same tool or else you might face issues voting, depending on your state! Want to stay registered at another address? Jump to Step 2.

Step 2. Help a few friends to check their registration

Now that you’re all set for Election Day, it’s time to encourage others! Your texts can make the difference between someone casting their ballot or not this fall.

Who’s most strategic to contact? Friends who have recently moved or are moving before November (they’ll need to update their address information!) and friends in competitive districts (‘Competitive districts’ are listed as “lean” or “tossup” here: House, Senate, and Presidential) .

Get started with these sample messages. As always, personalize for the greatest impact!

  • To your friend who moved: I just learned you have to re-register to vote whenever you move.... Made me think of you and your new place! Are you all set for this fall? climatechangemakers.org/quick-register-to-vote.

  • To your busy friend in a swing state: I know you have a million things going on, but you're my favorite [swing state] voter and I just want to double check your registration is up to date? climatechangemakers.org/quick-register-to-vote.

  • To the group chat: Public Service Announcement! Everyone check your voter registration right now! It takes 30 seconds and you'll make me happy. climatechangemakers.org/quick-register-to-vote.

  • To your friend who's 'over' politics: OK so I know you're yucked by all things politics, but voting this year really matters for climate change, which you know is really important to me. As a baby step, can you just double check your registration? climatechangemakers.org/quick-register-to-vote.

Now, if you really mean business, set a reminder on your phone or calendar to text all these people again in 2 days. Follow up, follow up, follow up.

Step 3. Make your voting plan

Option 1: Find your polling location: Prevent a scramble on Election Day by looking up your polling location and writing it down. This can be found on your city or town’s board of elections website. Just Google your city + “polling location” and you should find a spot to plug in your address.

Option 2: Voting Absentee: You should not be registered to vote at an address you can’t reasonably claim to live at, like a former apartment now leased to someone else. But if you’re in a temporary living situation, you can remain registered at your more permanent address if you’d prefer to vote in that state/city. Keep in mind that registering to vote at your current address will get you election-related mail much more quickly. If you’re staying registered at a different location (e.g. your parents’ house, or a home you own but aren’t currently staying in), you will need to request an absentee ballot to wherever you plan to be on Election Day from the state where you’re registered. (And it goes without saying that you can only vote once per election, in one location!).

Option 3: Voting by Mail: You can also vote by mail in your home jurisdiction if there’s a chance you might be busy on Election Day, you want to get it done early, or if this option just sounds more convenient to you. (They’ll usually send you an “I Voted!” sticker in the mail so you don’t feel left out!). You can request both absentee and mail ballots at the link below.

  • Up to 80% of voters who register on Vote.org (the embed above) follow through and cast a ballot on election day! However, it's hard to register new voters from far away. Their contact info is not publicly available in the voter files, so we can't phone bank them or write letters. We have to meet them where they are, which is usually in the real world, face-to-face. So, especially if you live in a swing state, registering the folks around you is a really great use of your time.

    Here are some above-and-beyond ways that you can register new voters:

    • Check our voter registration events feed to join a voter registration drive near you.

    • Don't see one in your area?

      • Get involved with NextGen America, When We All Vote, and HeadCount. (P.S. With HeadCount, you get free tickets to big concerts if you help them register voters in advance!).

      • Search on Mobilize. Use the Filter function to search "Voter Registration" and your area.

      • Google it! Try a few different search terms to see what works.

      • Host your own voter drive! Check out the instructions in this guide. It's written for students organizing on campus, but the resources & tactics are relevant to all. Pop up at the local farmer's market! Go stand outside the the quad at your local community college!

  • Getting out the vote is more fun and more influential with friends. Consider putting a date on the calendar to write letters to voters or host a little “ballot review” party ahead of Election Day. We’ve got a playbook for that.

And that’s it, playbook complete! Feel accomplished.
Thank you for taking action.

Want more action?
Return to The Climate Vote.

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