Election years are when persuasive messaging really shines. For our government to truly represent us, our communities need to feel motivated to show up. That’s where organizations like yours come in — as leaders who can drive your community to action.
So, how you talk about the 2024 election matters. A lot. Keep these messaging tenets and resources on hand to mobilize your community in 2024:
- Be inclusive — People are more likely to take an action if they see others doing it. Share testimonials like these from voters in your community, to help others with shared identities or experiences see themselves as voters and get registered.
- Be a visionary — Can you paint a picture of the world you want to build? How would voting help achieve that? When talking about issues on the ballot, focus on what your community stands to gain. Learn more from The Decision Lab about why this kind of positive framing motivates people to act.
- Be practical — Voters will be bombarded the closer we get to November 2024, so make a plan to break through the noise with bite-size reminders about HOW they can vote. Remember, basic facts and logistics don’t have to be dry — you’ll capture more attention if you convey them in an eye-catching video for social media!
Check out these resources:
- Get inspired with these voter testimonials
- Learn about positive message framing
- See how ho-hum voting reminders can still be fun
Mobilizing “lawyers and collars” to defend voting rights
Nonprofits have long been powerful stewards of our right to vote. Just take a look at Sojourners, which in 2020 teamed up with Mixte on a campaign to educate the public — particularly Black communities of faith in election battleground states — on their voting rights, and hold election officials accountable for a free, fair and safe election.
If you want a partner on your 2024 election messaging, let’s chat.
Don’t sleep on the youth
Headlines like these paint a clear picture of what many adults think:
- “Gen Z, millennials have a harder time adulting.”
- “Gen Z is out on college.”
- “Gen Zers make ‘difficult’ employees, managers say.”
Especially in an election year, ignoring youth’s strengths and leadership is a serious oversight.
The reality is, despite systemic barriers, young people are highly civically engaged. The challenges they face range from attempts to block college students from voting in 2020, to underrepresentation in government. But they remain undaunted. The youth vote surged in 2020, and youth are running for office at increasing rates.
Nonprofits working to get out the vote in 2024 will do well to partner with young people and prioritize their needs. Here are some resources to inspire and prepare you to mobilize youth in your community:
