Election-related Activities

With the results of the 2020 election dominating news coverage and social media, you may be wondering what the election results mean for Maine nonprofits. To help answer your questions, here is an initial analysis of the nonprofit implications of the election results. Overview of election results in Maine The unofficial turnout for the 2020 […]

As part of our blog series focused on the theme How 501c3 Nonprofits Can Engage in Elections,today we’re highlighting Social Media Do’s and Don’ts. 501(c)3 Nonprofits should be careful with their use of social media during election season. Typically, questions arise when someone posts something electoral on a nonprofit’s social media channels and when trying to […]

As part of our blog series focused on the theme How 501c3 Nonprofits Can Engage in Elections,we now focus on Issue Advocacy. 501(c)3 Nonprofits may legally engage in issue advocacy during election season but should be careful. Guidelines The fundamental consideration is whether the issue advocacy benefits or appears to benefit one candidate over another. The […]

As part of our blog series focused on the theme How 501c3 Nonprofits Can Engage in Elections, we’re highlighting Voter and Candidate Education. 501(c)3 Nonprofits may legally engage in voter and candidate education, such as through candidate forums and candidate questionnaires. While these are permissible to use, they need to be done carefully to avoid pitfalls. […]

This is part of our blog series focused on the theme How 501c3 Nonprofits Can Engage in Elections. In this blog, we turn to Election Law Basics for Nonprofits Election Law Basics for Nonprofits Federal tax law prohibits 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations from engaging in electoral activity. This includes: No support or opposition for candidates running […]

Due to the pandemic, the Maine Secretary of State’s office rescheduled the primary election to July 14, 2020. This election will be different than past elections due to restrictions on gatherings and other pandemic-related guidance. Municipalities across the state are recommending that voters avail themselves of absentee ballots. The deadline to request an absentee ballot […]

Maine nonprofits are critically important to Maine’s economy and quality of life, employing 1 in 6 Maine workers and spending billions of dollars each year. Maine nonprofits stimulate the economy, build community, weave our social safety net and foster civic engagement. This year is an especially important year for nonprofits to raise awareness about the […]

Today is Primary Day 2020 and we’re kicking off a blog series focused on the theme How 501c3 Nonprofits Can Engage in Elections. Today we’re highlighting the role of nonprofits in getting out the vote (GOTV), part 2 will cover Voter and Candidate Education, part 3 will dig into Issue Advocacy, and part 4 will […]

While 501(c)(3) nonprofits are prohibited from supporting or opposing candidates for public office, that does not mean they have to stay out of elections all together. Nonprofits can engage in issue education and Get Out the Vote initiatives. This year is an especially important year for nonprofits to foster civic engagement and raise awareness about […]

Well, the time is here. If you haven’t taken advantage of Maine’s incredibly accessible early vote options, TOMORROW is the day you GET OUT YOUR VOTE! All across Maine and the country, voters will head to the polls and cast their ballots. It is critical that nonprofit employees, board members and volunteers turn out. Elected […]