Amplify the importance of our votes.

Rock the Vote makes hosting a Register to Vote event easy. Look for busy areas like festivals, faith services, shopping areas and high schools. Start reaching out now for the ok from your event site. Now follow the Rock the Vote Guide!

BEFORE YOUR EVENT
1. Lock in Your Logistics
Will you have Wi-Fi? Rock the Vote’s online voter registration tool requires an internet connection. It’s mobile-friendly, so you can use cell phones, but having a few devices— ideally, tablets—connected to the Internet with Rock the Vote’s online voter registration tool
(register.rockthevote.com) bookmarked is ideal.
Where and when will you host your event? Areas with high foot traffic are ideal. Here are some suggestions:
● People are most likely to register when they’re killing time as they wait in line at a sporting event, concert, bar, lunch line, etc.
● Set up a table in a high-traffic area: think public festivals, college campuses, supermarkets, farmer’s markets, local places of worship, and local events. Once you know where you want to hold your registration drive, be sure to get permission from
any venue or store you’d like to set up at.

2. Set Goals
You should have the following goals in mind:
● Providing Rock the Vote’s online registration tool (register.rockthevote.com) to people so they can register themselves or update their registration status.
● Having conversations with people about the issues you/they care about, as a way to continue building relationships in your community.
Based on your community and your voter registration event, you can brainstorm and set additional goals in advance!

3. Build Your Team
Organizers work best in teams, so think about people who can help you with your voter registration event and how many people you’ll need. If you’ll be in the same location for a few hours, you can schedule a few shifts and follow up with your fellow volunteers. Ensure that you have enough people to work at your table, reach out to passersby, canvass the line, bring snacks/tables/chairs, and more.
● Ask your friends to help you out. Tell them what you’re doing and explain why it’s important to you– your “inner circle” will be there for you. Plus, it’s fun to register voters with your friends. Reach out to local organizations. Civic and volunteer organizations in your community can put you in touch with people looking to register voters.
● Get on line. Be sure to post about your event on social media! By engaging with people and offering volunteer opportunities online, you can expand your reach and connect with new people who want to help with your event.

4. Set Up Your Supplies
Try to get your supplies together in advance in order to have a streamlined and fun registration drive. Here’s what you’ll need:
Online Registration Tool: Make sure all phones, tablets, and computers are charged and ready to go, and bookmark register.rockthevote.com for quick access on all your devices.
Setting Up Your Spot: Depending on your event, here are some additional supplies you may
want to gather.
● A table and chairs
● Sign-in sheets and pens for folks who would like to get involved and volunteer at future events
● Posters, banners, and signs that say “Register to Vote Here”
● Bring your gear! Consider asking everyone on your team to wear the same color shirt, so that you can easily keep track of one another.
● Snacks for your group! It’s always great to have water bottles and some granola bars on hand to keep volunteers in high spirits.
● If you have a permit, be sure to bring it with you in case you need it.

5. Publicize Your Event
The tools and networks you utilize every day are the best places to start. Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, will help you spread the word. Publicizing your event will help recruit
volunteers and let potential voters know where they can go to register. If the registration drive is at a school, tell the campus newspaper and radio station what you are up to. Get a local radio
station to come broadcast from your registration event. Other local media outlets may also be interested. They just need to know your event is happening!

6. Train Your Volunteers
Whether it’s at a designated team meeting or 30 minutes before the event, you’ll need to train your volunteers to run through Rock the Vote’s online voter registration tool and best practices
with your volunteers! Make sure your volunteers feel valued and create an environment where you’re able to motivate each other.
Here are a few things you can do to get the ball rolling:
● Introductions: Icebreakers are a good opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and laugh together. Ask about each person’s reason for participating in the registration drive! You can motivate each other and potential registrants by telling them your reason and asking for theirs.
● Hand out materials: Give everyone their tablets, mobile devices, or computers with Rock the Vote’s registration tool bookmarked: register.rockthevote.com.
● Explain how to register voters.
○ Everyone should ask: “Are you registered to vote at your current address?” If the person walking by says yes, ask them if they are sure that they have registered since the last time they moved.
○ Explain how to wrap up a person’s registration process: “Thanks for registering to vote! If you have any further questions, you can call your Secretary of State or visit Rock the Vote’s Election Center
● Do a demo. Have your volunteers roleplay by registering each other to vote.
● Set a goal for each person and the group. Remember to make them realistic. If volunteers are fanning out into different areas, make sure everyone comes back to a central meeting place at the same time.

7. Confirm Your Logistics
The day before your event, make sure to confirm the logistics with your venue or host organization! Additionally, call your volunteers to confirm their attendance and double-check that you have all the supplies you’ll need.
You’ve got this!

Written by Rock the Vote

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