NATIONAL VULNERABLE VOTERS WORKING GROUP
Landing Page Link: (Source for documents, templates and resources)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hkOpGQzvP2DsvzemKwr-UEr4QUratYJG-Afkc2v29Gk/edit#
Current Meeting Notes
Past Meeting Notes
02.14.2023 (Tuesday)
Welcome | Kerri Toloczko
Participants: 60
Visiting your local residential facilities | Kerri
Where to start: collaborate with your team, you'll need a leader/coordinator to make sure everything goes well. Take the list of facilities and separate them geographically/type to make them easier to handle. Pay attention to what people are good at - some are good at phone calls, some are better at speeches, others like research. This can help you split tasks.
Step 1: Shared cold-call script in chat - screen shared:
Reach out to the director of the facility (WHEN can they meet, not IF they want to). Offer to email materials to them ahead of the meeting. Always assume that they have no idea what you’re talking about and become the resource they need.
When doing research, keep in mind that ADA compliance applies to senior voters too. Make sure to look at both state and federal laws. See if observers are allowed, how absentee signatures are handled, etc. find out how they should be doing it and how they are actually doing it.
Be sure they know the risks of inaccurate ballots but do not talk about it around residents.
Speak with the activities director because they can get you in to organize information events with the residents, etc. They are always looking for new things. Make it fun for the residents - food, games, interactive learning, etc. You can also ask the directors to invite the families of the residents for your events. This would get them up to date on the laws and the risks their family members may face. There have been issues reported before of families not being aware their elderly members were being taken advantage of.
You can use the scripts provided verbatim or change them up all you would like.
Emphasize you are a member of their community and NOT coming on behalf of a political party, you are there for educational purposes. Don't ask for party preferences, don't mention “fraud,” BE THE RESOURCE.
Keep separate meetings intended for the residents and the ones intended for the director/head of the facility.
Be right, be polite, be persistent - don't let them write you off. Remember that there are a lot of leftist groups that are talking to them too so if they try to write you off and you know the LWV have been there you can use that.
Step 2: Outreach Sample Letter
This letter has two purposes - you are tired of them on the phone (sending message that you are paying attention) or wealth of resources (rules and procedures they need to know)
The related rules and procedures are listed out with reference numbers, the state level is mentioned, and the local concerned citizens are mentioned.
The information included would give them resources in of itself to get them started. Sites, phone numbers, code numbers, etc.
How you end the letter is dependent on what your reason for sending it is. You can just close it or you can let them know that you will be following up.
Election Crimes Letter
Different flavor, bit more direct - “Don't be accused of a 3rd degree felony”
Let them know that if they don't follow the law there are consequences… nicely.
Sue Parent | Lake County, FL
Heads up a local coalition in FL, connected to The People’s Audit where you can look up your own voting record.
We talk to the directors and tie in the families for activities at the assisted living areas. We let them know who we know is registered at their facility and they are usually very interested in reviewing the list and letting us know who is not there. We do speak in generalities due to HIPPA though. The letter example is great. Everyone has family or friends that may be able to talk to the directors to check the rolls, even if some of the directors do not really know what youre talking about. Everyone starts from somewhere so we need to get them on track.
Kerri Toloczko: It can be fun to engage with the attendees and get to know them, they really do enjoy visitors. It is terrible that some view them as just votes to be gathered.
Questions & Suggestions
Ann Grigorian: Has anyone taught them the full election process from start to finish? Since many do mail-in it may be good to show them how it works. We can do a skit or something. I have that tool already and can modify it.
Kerri Toloczko: It would be useful because many of them are very vulnerable because they have to have so much trust in the aides. Just because they are in a facility doesn't mean they have lost their intellect. If you'd like to share that with the group that would be great too.
Lisa Gerboth | NC: I have been watching the nonprofits and in VA there are a lot of them encouraging UOCAVA votes for the upcoming election. I have put a link in the chat for review. People do not need to have any connection to the US to vote.
Kerri Toloczko: We will be having meetings dedicated to UOCAVA voting here soon because there are many many holes that need to be fixed in that program. It is NOT the military vote anymore and some of the voters are not even outside the country when they vote.
Jane Bilello | NC: Thank you! The citizen vote overseas in NC alone doubled and sometimes tripled recently. We need to address it. Also, I joined the Council of Aging. I will be going to nursing homes starting Friday. I found out from the commissioners that they need volunteers so I was able to get signed up with them. Now, they can use me when they are short handed. I'll be meeting with the director along with a group, at the Friday meeting at the nursing home.
Kerri Toloczko: That is a brilliant idea to go to the commissioners. We need to look more into that.
Don Carter | NC: Jane is doing some great work. If i can help, let me know.
Jane Bilello | NC: We will be going to shelters too and may need the help.
Don Carter | NC: Seems to me that the lists of the national institutions need to be broken up by state to make it more focused. Here are some large single owners of the national groups.
Kerri Toloczko: That would be very involved to do that but I agree that is necessary. Can you present what you found in your research? We can talk offline.
Denise Sirbono | Osceola County: When sending the letters should we have all in the team sign it or just one?
Kerri Toloczko: Use your discretion but we don't want to come across as intimidating. Do what you need according to your mission with the letter.
Denise Sirbono | Osceola County: we would be using 5-10 names to emphasize involvement but nothing too long.
[notes page with landing page linked has been shared in the chat]
Next call is the 28th of this month
Chat Feature Comments
Caryn Young l Michigan
Do you consider “incarcerated” individuals as vulnerable voters?
Toni Trevino - TX
I’m not yet on a state coalition call. I’m from Texas.
Bryson Davis | Virginia Institute
Script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mDyxOE5xACMh7ujOa9VvcgHsu4i8gS10/edit
Toni Trevino - TX
tonitrevino@me.com
Melanie Thomas New Mexico
If we are voter registrars, should we use this as an opportunity to register voters? Melanie T. NM
Renee Sinaly
I am not on the state coalition call, also. Florida
Kerri Toloczko EIN
CEO letter and list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iz2f_V-Cfvr2uWk_fbA_ZNbFA79F3Obdgb344ipU4-4/edit
Bryson Davis | Virginia Institute
Florida "Election Crimes" Advisory Letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gy7gIfiHdMbgXoJy5nxR73Q-GF6J_Yo8/edit
Residential Facility Outreach Letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sbvP-F9RAsWC7YpIY3ZLkPeKrlno009a/edit
Don Carter, NC, Wake County
Thanks Kerri for the CEO list.
Mary Vanatta -FL
Florida's Agency for Healthcare Administration has a Search for Facility option to get the entire list of facilities in the state. This list shows the number of beds in each facility. From a data standpoint, it can be a tool to know if more votes than beds (people) occurred from a facility. Also from a "complaint" or filing to a regulatory or law enforcement agency, any crimes like fraud, have enhanced penalties - if we can ever get someone to take an interest
Lisa Gerboth - NC
Toni Trevino - TX
Could we get Kerri’s email again to let her know of others who would be great on this Working Group?
Kerri ToloczkoEIN
KToloczko@cpi.org
Lisa Gerboth - NC
One of the nonprofits trying to get more people vote from overseas https://twitter.com/vfaglobal
Ann Grigorian
Don't forget...about 17 years ago there was a huge industry around Chinese "tourist babies". They have never lived in this country and are raised under the CCP, most have not intent to live in the US, but have birthright citizenship. They will start to be of voting age in the next year and have full right to vote in our elections as citizens. Just food for thought.
Kenneth C. Morrow Jr., Clay and Duval
Please remember our veterans. They could be an untapped source of votes. I volunteer with We Can Be Heroes Foundation that serves Jacksonville homeless veterans.
Donnie Rutherford
Where do I find the handouts for this meeting? I'm in Hillsborough County, FL.
Bryson Davis | Virginia Institute
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hkOpGQzvP2DsvzemKwr-UEr4QUratYJG-Afkc2v29Gk/edit#
Linda Harper
I have been on the local and regional council for aging for 12 years, and have held classes for voting.
Melanie Thomas New Mexico
Thanks Bryson and Kerri - great info! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Melanie T.
01.24.2023 (Tuesday)
Welcome | Kerri Toloczko
Participants: 54
Bob Carlstrom | president of AMAC Action
AMAC is the conservative alternative to AARP
AMAC Action is advocacy focused with an emphasis on the grassroots. We are helping people to connect with their legislators and have created a network that can respond to a call to action collectively. We have a MN call to action about abortions and another going out on RCV too. In the last two years we have been very involved in election integrity efforts and our members have been very active as well.
AMAC.us. Ages 30+ can join
On other fronts, we are trying to shut down HR1 in both the House and Senate.
In 2023, we are predicting a lot of movement and action too. We do see a lot of pushback on the other side but we are continuing to move forward. Vulnerable Voters is one of the key issues in EI.
Kerri Toloczko: AMAC has been very helpful in getting the word out on what we are doing, they share our emails all over the nation as well.
Bob: We have a special responsibility to stay engaged and even spread the word to our friends that are not AMAC members.
Kerri Toloczko | Protecting Votes from the CEO Level
[Thomas Moore Society (Erick Kaardal) video shared - families discovering their nursing home bound elderly members have “voted”]
Letter of the Law on Protecting Vulnerable Voters
Vulnerable Voters Sample Letter
Includes a list of 15 of the largest CEOs for nation-wide nursing home companies
You can use the document to copy and paste and adapt to your state. This sends a two part message - we are watching and we are telling you what you should be doing. If everyone sends this letter to the same CEO, they will pay attention. They are not accusatory, that would shut the door, it is advisory to show them what has happened before. It asks them to get their local leaders to allow us in, as a nonpartisan group. It also invited them to join the VV working group.
Suggestions - you can take this letter and add in the names of particular facilities near you. You can mention wonky laws like the ballot harvesting laws and how it can impact residents.
Always be kind and don't accuse them of anything. You can send this as a group or as an individual. Emphasize our ability to help them as needed.
This is a great project for the coming year because it can spark their interest in what we do and then, when we go to the homes, they will have their questions and be more open to hearing from us.
Discussion:
Willard | IL: we had a good letter bad letter system, similar to this, that outlined the law and that we were paying attention. There was a third aspect that involved a survey of the homes that had more voters than beds. We were able to build a relationship through that with the officials. This system also let them know that they could not just skirt the law or ignore parts they didn't like.
Kerri: if they continue to avoid the law then I would say to go to the media. There is playing nice and playing hardball. Twitter is your friend, these corporations will freak out if you start naming the facilities that are breaking the law. You can also use letters to the editor and use smaller news agencies. Legislators can also use the ammo too. If you are getting stuck, plan C is going to the media.
Pamela Reardon | GA: Where are the links?
Kerri: Bryson has put the google doc in the chat. We don't post them on webpages.
Denise | FL: I wrote down the SCIU, FL?
Kerri: Service Employee International Union - the largest service worker union in the country. They are a political powerhouse that pumps a lot of money into elections. Their members are encouraged to participate in voter activities and events. They are in some companies that require unionization too. When going into the facilities and homes we want people to be aware that they may be who is pushing back the most.
Melanie Thomas | NM: Do you consider the homeless to be part of this effort?
Kerri: That will be an entire call in a few weeks. They are often on the other side of felonies because they are often given things in exchange for their vote/ballot. Helping them will require immersion in the community and educating them on how they can vote. They are targets because they don't have IDs or addresses.
Willard | IL: We would love to send letters as we get them. We also offer for the clerk to work with their staff to train on absentee voting to make sure they are not going outside the law.
Kerri: We can certainly involve the elderly in this effort as well. They can educate, send letters, create groups within their own homes, etc.
Bob Carlstrom: AMAC will certainly send out letters too
Kerri Toloczo: That would be amazing if they put their names on the letters (leave me off it). I would not want to be those CEOs when those letters come in.
Denise | FL: It gets hard to work on VV here. I had to go to the legislators to get the list of the facilities.
Kerri Toloczko: I have a spreadsheet that has 600+ facilities across the nation. You can also work together with others on this call in your state to send the letters together.
DACA Issue - Driver's Licenses for All:
The drivers license issue is a problem on multiple fronts [presentation shared]
We all know they don't care about people being allowed to vote. This targets people who are unduly influenced and those whose votes are diminished by the unduly influenced.
Once they have an ID, their vote can be taken. They cannot vote themselves because they are not citizens. They cannot become a citizen if they vote in an election prior to being a citizen.
Research the laws in your state - how are IDs for DACA handled? Are the laws being followed? What laws need to be tightened up?
The law is often silent on non-citizens voting in local elections. There is nothing on a license that denotes citizenship.
Chat Feature Comments
Barbara Ambrose, VA \
I am with Richmond Election Integrity, j