Saperstein: "There is clearly so much at stake in the 2012 presidential and congressional elections. Get Out the Vote 2012 is an invaluable tool to educate voters and encourage higher voter participation in November.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 14, 2012 - A broad coalition of national Jewish organizations and religious movements including the Union for Reform Judaism, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, have joined together to promote Get Out the Vote 2012, a non-partisan guide to election year civic engagement created by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism on behalf of the coalition. This resource, available online and as a PDF at www.rac.org/vote, contains tools to help the Jewish community register and educate voters for the upcoming elections.
"There is clearly so much at stake in the 2012 presidential and congressional elections, including vital political, economic, and moral issues important to all Americans and the Jewish community in particular," said Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. "Get Out the Vote 2012 is an invaluable tool to educate voters and encourage higher voter participation in November."
The guide provides guidance to Jewish synagogues, organizations, and individuals seeking to run successful voter registration drives. It also includes resources and best practices on how to help college students, people with disabilities, homebound citizens, and others vote by absentee ballot, educate voters about issues through programs such as candidate forums, and organize Election Day carpools.
In addition, Get Out the Vote 2012 reviews the regulations governing election year activities by non-profits and religious institutions. There has been significant attention to these important rules due to high profile IRS scrutiny of nonprofit institutions. Jewish institutions are, as always, advised to work actively on the issues we care about so deeply, while remaining mindful to stay within the limits their non-profit status requires. In this important election year, Get Out the Vote 2012 will play a critical role in helping Americans and Jews fulfill their civic duty on November 6th. The guide is available online at www.rac.org/vote.
