Lowell Votes May 4th Public Meeting

Lowell VotesMay 4 Public Meeting

Every vote makes a difference.

0102030405060708090

Voting Age Population

(2013)

Registered Voters (2014)

2012 2014 2013

Thou

sand

sChart Title

Last Local11,526

14% of V.A.P.

20% of registered voters, 35% of 2012 turnout

Source: Lowell Election and Census Office. “11-5-2013” 2013 Municipal General Election Voter List, Excel Table.

Local only 35% of Presidential Turnout

2013 Voters as % of 2012 Voters

10-3

11-3

1-3

1-21-12-3

7-2

2-2

2-1

9-3

9-29-15-2

5-3

4-34-23-3

7-3

7-1

5-16-3

8-1

8-2

3-1

11-2

11-110-1

6-2

6-1

3-2

10-2

8-3

4-1

¯

0 1 20.5Miles

2013 Vote21% - 26%

27% - 31%

32% - 33%

34% - 43%

44% - 53%

2013 Turnout: Lowell Election and Census Office. “11-5-2013” Excel Table, geocoded.2012 Turnout: Lowell Election and Census Office. “11_6_2012” Excel Table, geocoded.Note: 58 voters unable to be geocoded and not represented on map.

Dropoff in all Neighborhoods

Lowell Votes Mission

We are a nonpartisan effort to increase the number of people who vote in Lowell, especially those who face barriers or have

historically low turnout rates.

Our Idea

Create and provide tools to a team of volunteers and partner organizations.

The team will make personal contact with voters and potential voters to encourage, educate, and support them by meeting

them where they are: in churches, stores, parks, community events, and most

especially, at their front doors.

What We Heard

•Education needed about candidates and the City Council’s job is for all populations

•Focus on existing voters, but don’t ignore registering new voters

•Use many channels: Social media, traditional media, meeting and talking

What We Heard

•Voter registration can also serve as gathering information

•Non-English speakers face special barriers, including being able to read the ballot

•Need to cut through the “flood of information” with relevent info

Ideas We Heard

•Hold fun events and do canvassing

•Create an informational website

•Reach out to the Public Schools

•Create a voter guide

•Film informational videos

Our Proposed Schedule

May Jun Jul

Planning and Fundraising

Aug Sep Oct Nov

Outreach with "Who is running"

message

Outreach with "Vote Today"

message

Volunteer Recruiting, Training, Creating Educational Materials

Outreach with "Why Vote" message

Breakout Groups

•Canvassing

•Education & Literature

•Events

•Marketing

•Media & Fundraising

Canvassing

•Cut turf and coordinate doorknocking

•Identify and recruiting block captains

•Phone bank and do mailing

•Train canvassers

Education & Literature

•Create materials about how city government works

•Create material about why voting is important

•Create voter guides

•Create educational programs

Events

•Plan and make presentations to groups (churches, neighborhoods, school, etc)

•Plan and hold rallies

•Table at existing events

•Promote other events

Marketing

•Create branding and marketing campaigns

•Develop website and maintain social media

•Create promotional materials such as t-shirts and buttons

Media & Fundraising

•Interface with traditional media

•Organize interviews and advertising

•Seek and apply for grants

•Reach out for private donations

How it all Comes Together

Media

Canvassing

Marketing

Events Education

Steering Commitee