2012 Election Advocacy and the HIV/AIDS Community

1. 2012 Election Advocacy and the HIV/AIDS Community Pete Subkoviak AIDS Foundation of Chicago psubkoviak@aidschicago.org Charles Stephens AIDS United Cstephens@aidsunited.org WWW.HIVHealthReform.org/HIVMedAccess

2. First a bit of Housekeeping...... • All attendees are in listen-only mode • During Q & A segments • Everyone can ask questions using the chat feature. • If you are using the phone: Use the ‘Raise Hand’ button if you want to ask a question and you will be unmuted and called upon. • Recording and presentation will be available at website

3. Raise your Hand or Use the Question Feature to Ask Questions

4. 2012 Election Advocacy

6. One of HMAC’s Goals • Increase the awareness and importance of HIV/AIDS in the 2012 election cycle by: • Getting candidates on record on pressing HIV/AIDS issues • Getting media attention on HIV/AIDS issues during the election season

7. www.HIVHealthReform.org/HIVmedaccess

9. Rules for Election Advocacy

10. Do’s and Don’ts DON’T • Wear or say anything that promotes a candidate or party • Tell voters who to vote for • Connect voting with an issue (don’t say: “vote for AIDS”) • IMPORTANT: YOU CAN DO ALL THIS ON YOUR OWN TIME AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN DO • Encourage participation in the civic process • Educate your community on ways to register and vote • Remind them that they have a voice

11. Do’s and Don’ts: Examples Legal Illegal • We support Bill 123 which would increase funding for ADAP • Do you support Bill 123? • You should sign up to vote – here’s how • Do you know where the candidates stand on AIDS issues? • Vote for AIDS in 2012 • Support Romney in 2012! • Republicans boo, vote Democrat! • You should sign up to vote and then vote for me

12. Bird-Dogging:Not as scary as it looks

13. What is Bird-Dogging? • Bird-dogging is a tactic activists use to demand answers from politicians in a public setting. • Simply put, bird-dogging involves attending a public event and asking politicians questions. • This tactic can help bring media attention to your issue and inspire elected officials to commit to new policies.

14. Bird-Dogging Steps

15. You can learn about upcoming events by getting on the party or candidate’s email lists. Once you find an event, ask the organizer for details—when the doors open, if you need tickets, and if there is a question period.

16. Bringing along a few friends • who share in your cause and are • willing to ask questions will • strengthen not only your efforts, • but also your confidence. • The more people, the more likely it is that at least one of your questions will get answered.

17. Write your questions in advance! • Make it personal by sharing your own story—what has inspired you to take on this cause? • Make a clear ask—if you have identified a problem, what is the solution and how can this person enact change? • Make it easy for them to say yes—it is a simple, moral obligation. • Practice your questions with a friend who will act as the politician or a devil’s advocate.

18. If you are in a group, spread out—do not all sit together. Arrive early so you can try to get a seat near the front.

19. First, Fast, High As soon as there is an opportunity for questions, get your hand up first, fast and high!

20. Candidates often walk • through the crowd giving • handshakes. This provides additional opportunity to engage in conversation, so get in line! • When you shake hands, ask your question. You’ll only have a few seconds, so make it quick and to the point. • If you have the chance, get a picture or an autograph to spend more time talking with this politician.

22. Bird-dogging is not about attacking an elected official or candidate. You will not make you or your cause look good if you do that. Before asking anything of a politician, make sure you research his or her stance on the issue. All that being said, elected officials work for us, and it is our responsibility to ask for the change we want.

23. Follow Up

24. State and Regional Action Planning to Mobilize Voters Charles Stephens AIDS United

25. What IS Voter Mobilization?

26. Tips for Successful Voter Mobilization • Learn the rules • Go to your Secretary of State’s website • Voter registration deadlines • Submission requirements • Rules for people with criminal records • Make a plan with realistic and attainable goals including • Number of people you want to register, get to the polls • Number of partners you plan to engage • Assess internal/external resources: • Existing efforts • Staff & volunteers • Peer educators • Registration opportunities (intake, support groups, health fairs, etc.)

27. Tips for Successful Voter Mobilization • Get the materials you need • Info on issues • Voter registration cards • Federal Election Commission • Your Secretary of State’s website • AIDS Vote http://www.c2ea.org/aidsvote • Identify your target universe of to register • Clients, staff, volunteers, residents, etc. • Who else? • Go to where the people they are, but start with your base • Your agency • Planning council meetings • Community events

28. Tips for Successful Voter Mobilization • Make it fun and easy • Create a voter registration station at your agency • Work with staff to integrate registration into encounters with clients • Organize volunteers to register voters at agency/community events • Identify registration captains • Organize educational forums for staff, clients, board members, and volunteers about key issues • Notify your network of important dates through email, phone calls, and social media • Registration deadline and election day! • Attend candidate forums and raise HIV/AIDS issues

29. Let’s Get Out the Vote! • Organize carpools • Use agency vehicles • Collaborate with faith partners or other organizations that are organizing rides to the polls • Get the word out • Phone calls • Fliers • Facebook • Twitter • Cast YOUR vote!

31. The HMAC Elections Toolkit HIVHealthReform.org/HIVMedAccess

32. The HMAC Elections Toolkit • Elections Advocacy Power Point • Questions for candidates with talking points • Telling your story worksheet • Do’s and Don’ts fact sheet • Voter mobilization assessment www.HIVHealthReform.org/HIVMedAccess

33. HMAC Election Advocacy • Power Point 2012 Election Advocacy

34. HMAC Election Advocacy Power Point • Elections Advocacy Power Point • Do’s and Don’ts for Non-Profits • Questions to ask candidates for federal office • Messaging: • for public events and getting heard by the media • Bird-dogging • Voter Mobilization

35. 2. Questions for Candidates

36. 2. Questions for Candidates • Two questions, along with talking points, for Congressional and Presidential candidates on HIV funding and ADAP • Print it out and use in town hall forums and other candidate events • Add your own personal story for greater impact

37. Other Questions to Ask

38. 3. Telling Your Story Worksheet

39. 3. Telling Your Story Worksheet • Use the worksheet to figure out what issue you want to focus on and how it affects you and your community • Helps you focus on how a “policy” (ex. funding for Ryan White programs) has affected you, your clients, and the community • Helps create a clear message to make the candidate and greater public understand why these issues are impact your region

40. 4. Do’s and Don’ts for NPOs

41. 4. Do’s and Don’ts for NPOs • Handy reference for 501(c)3 organizations to know what election activities they may engage in • Bottom line: Keep it issue based. NPO’s may support positions (ex. Funding for ADAP) but may not support, oppose or show favoritism to any candidate or political party.

42. 5. Voter Mobilization Assessment

43. 5. Voter Mobilization Assessment • Helps groups assess: • Their goals for mobilization • Their resources/capacity for voter mobilization • What actions might be most strategic to engage in • Action steps to achieve outcomes

45. Election Resources

46. www.HIVHealthReform.org/HIVmedaccess

47. Thank you and stay tuned for more! • Pete Subkoviak • AIDS Foundation of Chicago • Psubkoviak@aidschicago.org • Charles Stephens • AIDS United • Cstephens@aidsunited.org www.HIVHealthReform.org/HIVmedaccess