Get out the vote! How to maximize election awareness and engagement
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Member participation is the number one challenge facing associations and member organizations when conducting their elections. Election participation is the “measuring stick” by which to judge how connected members are to your organization. When election participation increases, it proves the validity of the election, shows advancements are being made, and can be used to judge return on investment.
Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) has long been providing the tools and resources for highly successful elections. We work with the world’s top associations, cooperatives, unions, and member-based organizations to plan and manage voting needs. When it comes to increasing election participation, we know how to get your numbers moving in the right direction.
We can help guide and inspire organizations to utilize new and creative methods to increase member participation in their elections. Read on to see what we recommend for organizations looking to better market their election to voting members.
Take Advantage of Social Media
Social media has moved beyond buzzwords to become extremely influential in everything from marketing to communications. What was once the domain of a younger, more tech-savvy generation has crossed demographic boundaries and is now commonly used by most Internet users.
Data shows a vast majority of Americans have social media profiles, with the number growing each year significantly. Meanwhile, the number of Facebook and Twitter users worldwide is in the billions. Companies are learning that you can increase voter participation with social media sharing services.
By utilizing social media to share election information to your voting members, you can maximize election promotion and awareness by taking advantage of a free and powerful marketing platform.
- Encourages increased engagement
The world of social media is varied, with multiple platforms appealing to different demographics. Identifying which social platforms will be most effective in getting the word out to your voting members is a key element in making it a successful strategy. It’s important to connect with members through multiple platforms and engaging voters where they’re most likely to be found using the medium they prefer, whether that’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn or many others.
- Generates comments and feedback
Social media offers a space for members to leave their feedback regarding your election. Pay attention to social media channels and be part of the conversation members are having about your organization’s voting process. It’s important and worthwhile to make note of the praise to continue doing the things that seem to be working, and accepting criticisms in order to improve for the future. Let members know you’re listening and, when possible, make their suggestions a reality.
Take a look at our blog, Pro and Con: Social Media and Elections to learn more.
Do you want to increase voter participation?
Let us show you how!Election Marketing Tools
We can help guide and inspire organizations to utilize new and creative methods to increase member participation in their elections.
Strategy is an essential aspect of marketing your election. You need to formulate your marketing strategy before implementing your methods to ensure that everything runs smoothly and lands within budget. Strategic actions include:
- Email List Verification
Looking to ensure you still have the correct email addresses for your members? Email list verification enables you to determine which members you aren’t currently reaching via email so you can develop strategies to bring them back into the loop.
- Email Collection
In order to reach your members for promoting elections, you must have contact information. If you are missing email addresses from some of your members, using their ballot as a method to get up-to-date email information can be invaluable.
- Voter Surveys
Learn what works and what doesn’t with member voting. No two organizations are alike, and gathering information about outreach and voting methods can help your organization have the most effective election possible.
Content is equally as important as your marketing strategy. There is no point in having a plan if you have no content to go along with it. Good marketing content to use can be things like:
- Website Banners
Promote your election through banners right on your website’s home page. These graphic banners can be clicked and redirect members to the election login page.
- Election Landing Pages
A dedicated webpage for your election information can help members feel more comfortable and informed about candidates, voting locations, and dates. Having one centralized location for this content simplifies connecting your members with answers to their election questions.
- Video Creation
Looking for an additional get-out-the-vote push? A video ad targeting eligible voting members can raise awareness of the election and encourage voter turnout.
Outreach is the last step in building a successful marketing campaign for your election. It involves pushing your content to your voting members in ways that will get them to vote:
- Social Media Campaign Management
Promoting your election information over social media platforms can be an effective way to increase voting turnout. Social media ads can be tailored to reach your members right where many spend a significant amount of time each day.
- Email Promotions
Emailing members can provide them with actionable steps to complete their ballot – a URL link to the voting page, election dates and times, and content on the importance of voting can all turn more members into voters.
- “GOTV” Messaging and Awareness Campaigns
Having consistent get-out-the-vote material to promote across all available platforms can provide a unified message to members on how vital the election process is. Raising awareness and making members care about voting are the two biggest steps in increasing participation, so a solid overarching strategy is extremely beneficial.
SBS offers marketing services to clients as an additional service with their elections. If you are interested, contact us to learn more!
Hannah joined SBS in June 2022 and currently holds the role of Marketing Strategist. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Minnesota Duluth, with coursework in English literature complementing her skill set. Creating content for SBS, her contributions span from graphic design to crafting informative election resources, like blogs and eBooks. Hannah also manages email communications and is responsible for producing the SBS Newsletter, “The Ballot Box”.