Voter Toolkit

BE INFORMED
STAY ENGAGED
USE YOUR VOICE
2nd Edition, 2017

BE INFORMED - KNOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!
Why? They work for you. They need to know how YOU want them to vote
on your behalf on issues that affect you, your family, and our community.
Call your representative regardless of party.
Factoid: Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts voted in favor of Ben Carson as
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Because she didn’t hear
differently from her constituents, she went along with the majority.
What to do: Fill-in the grid below so you’re ready to call your representatives.
Use this link to identify your elected representatives!
http://action.humanesociety.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=electedOfficials
Give your name, zip code and articulate your position (for or against)
legislation in one sentence.
Time commitment: Less than 10 minutes to call your representatives.
UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (Washington DC)
US STATE SENATORS
PHONE NUMBER
Patty Murray (206) 553-5545
Maria Cantwell (206) 220-6400
UNITED STATE HOUSE OF REPRE-
SENTATIVE (BASED ON YOUR ZIP
CODE)
PHONE NUMBER
LEGISLATURE DISTRICT # ­___ (OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON STATE)
STATE SENATOR
PHONE NUMBER
1.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
PHONE NUMBER
1.
2.

STAY ENGAGED - LEARN THE ISSUES TO ENGAGE WITH
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
How? Join, Join, Join! Sign up and join local and national groups, emails, and
newsletters for updates on issues you care about. For a list of advocacy
groups check out DUO’s Connection Advocacy Appendix (“CAAP”) at end of
this document and http://www.smallwhitefilter.com/alpha.html.
What to do: Deicide if you agree with the group’s advocacy recommendations,
call your representative and let them know how you want them to
represent you on the issue.
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Children’s Alliance
Washington State Commission on
African American Affairs
NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
Children’s Defense Fund
Southern Poverty Law
WEBSITES
www.childrensalliance.org
www.caa.wa.gov
WEBSITES
www.childrensdefense.org
www.splcenter.org

USE YOUR VOICE – ADVOCATE/RUN FOR OFFICE!
Why: We the people need skilled candidates of color for the 2018
elections to rise and help shape public opinion. Attend a leadership
training to strengthen your advocacy efforts and consider running for
Precinct Chair*, the School Board*, City Council*, Hospital boards
or one of the 200+ Governor’s Board and Commissions**.
What to do? Contact an agency such as Children’s Alliance to sign up
for a Leadership Training. Visit websites or call office of interest
(School District, City or State Commission Office) for more information.
Mobilize for a timely response. Legislation can take years, days, and
sometimes hours to pass. Develop YOUR OWN PERSONAL RAPID
RESPONSE TEAM, with at least 5 friends and family members, for
immediate (same day) response.
How? Set up a phone tree or GROUP ME text message group to take
immediate action (make a phone call, send an e-mail) regarding hot
legislative issues. Sign everybody up so that when we need to leap
into action (like we did at the airports the hour after Trump signed
his Muslim Ban) you can email and text each other and make an instant
plan.
*There are 39 cities in King County (i.e. Kent, Renton, Issaquah,
Bellevue, Federal Way, Bothell, Sammamish…). 39 opportunities
for Alpha Kappa Alpha to impact local school boards, commissions,
precincts and more.
** Washington State Governor’s Boards and Commissions -
http://www.governor.wa.gov/boards-commissions

CONNECTION ADVOCACY APPENDIX
(“CAAP”)
Best practices and Resources
BE INFORMED!
Who are your national and local elected representatives? Is their
stance on issues consistent with their campaign platform? Is it consistent
with what matters most to you? Here’s how you can find out.
TurboVote https://turbovote.org/
We make sure you always know when elections are happening, and
have the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up to
receive election reminders and get registered to vote.
Vote Spotter (Download the App)
Spot votes, vote Smart. Your elected officials vote on hundreds of
bills every year. Keeping track of important votes can feel like a fulltime
job. That’s where VoteSpotter comes in. VoteSpotter is a simple
app that alerts you to key votes, while making it easy to give your
legislator feedback on how they voted. Make yourself heard. With
one click, you’ll be able to vote on your elected officials’ vote, giving
them a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. Whether you agree or disagree
with your elected officials, you can then easily share your opinion
with them via email or phone right from the app.
How to Contact Your Elected Officials
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
What’s matters are being discussed
WA State Legislative Calendar:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/far/Senate/
Calendar
https://app.leg.wa.gov/far/House/
Calendar

STAY ENGAGED!
Leverage local and national organizations,
credible information, and effective
communication to increase your influence.
Indivisible
Indivisible Guide https://www.indivisibleguide.com/
Join a group in your community to take action and hold Congress accountable
Progressive Voters Guide
https://www.progressivevotersguide.com/
The Progressive Voters Guide is an annual project of Fuse Washington. Since
2008, we've combined the endorsements of Washington's leading progressive
organizations with research about candidates and ballot measures to give you
the information you've been searching for to be an informed voter. More than
1,300,000 people have used the Progressive Voters Guide, and thousands
come back each election for more of our thorough candidate research and
trusted recommendations.
ProPublica
https://www.propublica.org/
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative
journalism in the public interest. Their stated purpose focuses exclusively on
truly important stories, stories with “moral force.” They do this by “producing
journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on
the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them”.
Breitbart News
http://www.breitbart.com/
Breitbart News Network (mainly known as Breitbart) is a politically conservative
American news and opinion website founded in 2007 by conservative
commentator and entrepreneur Andrew Breitbart (1969–2012).
The website is loathed by many liberals, moderates and establishment Republicans
who say it stokes a partisan atmosphere and misleads readers to escalate
what they see as nonissues. But it has been beloved by many on the right
as an answer to mainstream media organizations, including The NY Times,
that are viewed as liberal in outlook.
Conservative News
https://townhall.com/
Source for conservative news and political commentary and analysis.

Fact Checking Resources
Be careful to avoid spreading information that has not been confirmed as
being true. There are many fake organizations/individuals that spread untrue
information as fact. Check for name of the source and date the content was
written.
http://www.factcheck.org/
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims
to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.
FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the
University of Pennsylvania.
http://www.Politifact.com
PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by
elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact is
run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times, an independent
newspaper in Florida
Tips for Communications
Elected officials want to be informed and responsive to their constituent's
needs. A well-constructed call, email or letter can provide valuable information
and feedback that helps the official choose an informed position.
NOTE: In today’s environment with such ease of obtaining information,
officials tend to prefer electronic or phone communications.
1. Use the correct form of address (and/or mailing address) – i.e. The
Honorable, Dear Senator, Dear Representative.
2. Avoid form letters; personal letters have more impact.
3. Be concise. Brief messages are more effective and more likely to be read.
Address only one issue in each correspondence.
4. Be specific. If you are asking for support of or opposition to a specific bill,
include its number and name, title or subject (House bill: H.R.____, Senate
bill: S.____). Communicate how the legislation impacts you, your colleagues,
your students, etc., if possible.
5. Include return address and contact information. Increase impact by sending
copies to your senators, members of Congress, and locally elected
leaders.
6. Ask for a reply. Follow up within a week.
7. Timing is essential. Know how the legislative process works. Send your
correspondence when the bill first reaches committee to have greatest
impact. Follow up with a contact before the bill is voted on.

USE YOUR VOICE!
Go further! Step into “service” yourself and/or support
someone else who might be able and willing.
Washington State Secretary of State
In Washington, we enjoy a unique tradition of promoting citizen involvement
in our political system. Under the populist provisions of our state constitution,
every voter has the right to run for office and to have his or her
name appear on the ballot without approval from a political party.
• https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/
• This site has helpful information for state voters and potential candidates
(i.e. election calendar, deadlines, custom voter guides, etc.)
School Board FAQs
Is education a concern or passion for you? Find out what school boards do,
how to communicate with them, how to run for a position!
https://www.nsba.org/about-us/frequently-asked-questions
Thinking About Running for City Council?
• Determine when city council elections are held in your city. Study the
issues in your city; attend open-forum city council meetings. Join a sub
-committee on your city council, such as neighborhood associations or
small business association. Work on getting your voice heard at council
meetings. Network with city government officials to get your views
and opinions heard.
• Research who is on the current city council and what their platform
issues are. Find out how popular members keep popularity and keep
getting elected.
• Assemble a small campaign team: i.e. campaign manager and financial
manager. Get information on the stipulations for campaigning and running
process.
• Section off parts of your city that contain a large population of the voters.
Visit door to door to give out information pamphlets on the issues
you plan to address.

How to Make a Public Comment at a City Council Meeting
1. Research topic of interest - Read local news to keep current. Review
minutes from recent meetings to find out what actions have recently
been taken relating to your concerns.
2. Find out when your next city council meeting is. Check your city’s
website if they have one.
3. Read the agenda for the meeting you plan to attend. Councils generally
cannot act on anything unless it is on the agenda.
4. Write your comments. Be aware of any time limits (typically 2-3
minutes) and practice aloud a few times.
5. Arrive early or go to your city hall and fill out a speaker card, if necessary.
6. Attend the meeting. Dress appropriately – does not need to be overly
formal. Consult AKA Protocol for guidance on wearing paraphernalia.
7. Go to podium confidently when called. Thank the person who called you
forward, putting their title (mayor, council member) before their last
name. Do your best to make eye contact and sound calm.
8. Introduce yourself, state that you live in the city, and state any relevant
affiliations (i.e. groups, etc.). It is appropriate to explain that you’re
speaking on behalf of yourself – not AKA.
9. State your position clearly. Briefly explain your reasoning and describe
evidence.
10. Thank the city council when done with your comments. It is ok to finish
your sentence if timer goes off, but not beyond that. It is best to submit
written supporting materials in advance, especially if vote will be taking
place on the same day. If you have any supporting materials, a city
clerk or staff member may be able to collect printed material for the
record.

Action
BE INFORMED
STAY ENGAGED

Plans
USE YOUR VOICE

BE INFORMED
Know your representatives
STAY ENGAGED
Learn the issues to engage with your representatives
USE YOUR VOICE
Advocate/Run for office
PRESENTED BY
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Delta Upsilon Omega, Seattle, WA
Connection Committee