Indivisibles across the country have already started to contact voters by canvassing (going door to door to have in person conversations) and phonebanking (calling voters on the phone). Now, groups will be able to use the Voter Action Network (VAN) to make that work easier and more effective. In some elections, we’ll also use peer-to-peer texting tools like Hustle.

This explainer covers how to decide what election your group should work on and how voter contact works. Please note: this guide is intended for groups engaging by using Indivisible’s VAN—which means working on the independent expenditure (IE) side, and not coordinating directly with candidates or their campaigns. If your group is getting involved outside of our program, or if you’re spending money on electoral work, you may need to consider different strategic and legal factors that aren’t covered here.

As local Indivisible groups jump into electoral work, we’ve been receiving more and more questions about campaign finance law. While we’re not able to provide legal advice, the following is meant to be a helpful resource to provide a general overview and answer common questions.

Questions about spending on electoral activities and campaign finance are often very nuanced.  Answers to these questions will generally depend on the details.  This overview will give you a good framework for thinking about broad questions, but it won’t get into specifics.

The most important way you can support candidates in your area is to spend your time, not your money. Volunteer time—canvassing, making phone calls, or holding candidate forums—is a huge factor in who gets elected.

State and local campaign finance law varies widely by place. The guidelines and answers in this resource are only applicable to federal races. This resource is meant for groups looking to engage in elections for U.S. Senate or Congress. If you are considering engaging in elections for governor, mayor, county council, state house or senate, etc., you should seek out local resources on compliance in your area.

Since the founding of this country, Americans have fought for the right to vote. From the 15th and 19th Amendments to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, there have been many long, hard battles and many victories in the field of voting rights. But the fight is not over. In many ways, it is worse than ever.

People have fought and died for the right to vote. Voter ID laws prevent people from exercising this right. If you live in a voter ID state,  there is someone in your district who cannot vote because they don’t have the right ID. Lack of access to ID cards impacts people even in states without voter ID laws. Accessing a photo ID is much more challenging for the young, the elderly,  people of color, and people with low incomes. All of these groups are more likely not to have photo ID, which means they aren’t authorized to work, and may not have access to their local shelter or food bank.

If you care about voter participation and making an impact at the polls in your district, getting IDs can not only change the electorate, but changes lives.

The difference average constituents can make when they raise their voices and hold their Members of Congress accountable is the core of the Indivisible strategy. In addition to showing up at district offices, town halls and making calls, there is another easy way constituents can hold their MoC accountable—voting! However, before constituents can vote, they have to register.

With nearly 6,000 Indivisible groups, and at least two in every congressional district, imagine the number of voters we can register together. This guide will cover why we register voters, how to use our new voter registration tool and how to register voters in your community.

We've been hearing from Indivisible groups that you want to know how to get involved in elections and also what restrictions incorporating would bring. Groups across the country can have a big impact on elections. As a volunteer, there are a variety of ways you can get involved! On Thursday at 8 PM, we'll be joined by Bolder Advocacy for a presentation about engaging in elections. 

Why are endorsements important? How does my group decide to endorse a candidate in the primary or general election? What does it mean when we endorse a candidate? Hear answers to these questions and more with the Indivisible Political and Organizing teams!

The original Indivisible Guide focused on how to act locally to influence your elected officials. This guide focuses on how to act locally to replace them.

What we wrote in the Guide nearly a year ago remains true today: Trump’s agenda doesn’t depend on Trump, but rather on whether your elected officials go along with him or resist. Indivisible groups in every congressional district in the country have taken that to heart.

Your local application of constituent power has, incredibly, altered the national political landscape. Ten months in, Trump’s plutocratic, white supremacist cabal has yet to enact a single significant piece of legislation. Instead, a ragtag bunch of volunteers just doing their civic duty on their home turf have won a breathtaking series of victories.

But you know these victories aren’t final. To stop the Trump agenda of racism, authoritarianism, and plutocracy, we have to take back power.

Lasting change can only be assured through electoral wins. This guide will give you the background on campaigns and elections you need to get involved in electoral politics for the first time.