Key Considerations

Fair elections are a critical cornerstone of a functioning democracy. Keep in mind that your work in this arena may be viewed as a reflection of the fairness, openness, and efficacy of local elections. Your work in this area may also effect the reputation of Extension in your county as a non-partisan educational partner. It may be helpful to consider the broader context and possible ramifications before diving in! 

Best Practices
for Election-Related Programming

These Do's and Don'ts will help you navigate the potentially challenging  dynamics of elections in your county and ensure good success of your workshop:
DO:

• Create a welcoming, non-partisan atmosphere
• Work closely with your County Clerk to ensure accuracy of information
• Keep your message on the larger goal of parity, not on any one candidate
• Establish clear expectations with partners on messaging 
• Plan ahead. You may need more time that usual to get approvals for marketing, messaging, and outreach! 
• Keep the timing and location of events politically-neutral  
• Educate current officials on the need for parity and enlist their support. They are powerful allies!
• Feature non-partisan speakers at events
• Educate residents: unlike national elections, most local elections are non-partisan!

DON'T:

• "Target" a particular seat or candidate in office
• Assume that age, race, and gender are synonymous with political party or affiliation
• Tell political jokes at meetings or events
• Partner with political organizations, unless you are willing to partner with multiple organizations across the spectrum

An Educational Event,
​Not a Partisan Rally

If you chose to have a keynote speaker at your event, consider someone from a non-partisan research organization, rather than a partisan-political leader. This will set good tone and clear purpose for your event, without hosting anything that looks and feels like a political rally. You may consider inviting a speaker from the Local Government Center or the Women in Government Team, or a speaker from another non-partisan organization like the League of Municipalities or the Wisconsin Towns Association.

Leaving a Legacy of Leadership: Talking with Elected Officials

As Extension Educators, maintaining a positive relationship with County Board Members and other elected officials is critical. Make an effort to talk with current elected officials about this area of programming and why parity is important to a functioning democracy.  You may want to consider asking for time at Town or County Board meeting, a meeting municipalities or consider individual discussions. Start any conversation with a local official with a heartfelt thank you for their service to the community. Be clear that your efforts to create parity are not an attempt to "replace them", but rather to build on their good work and service into the future. Afterall, when they are ready to step down from office, who will fill their shoes? Many local elected officials stay in office longer than they intend, because they are uncertain who (or if anyone!) will repalce them. We know from research that having an acting elected official ask a new candidate to run is incredibly motivating for new candidates.  Help elected officials see their place in helping to recruit the next generation of elected officials. Leaving a legacy of leadership is in everyone's best interests! 

The Sensitivity of Elections

Case study: Bayfield County
One surprise I had in conducting my first "Run For It!"  workshop was the general sensitivity to elections and election-related programs in our county. While my County Administrator was a strong proponent, there was a need for continued dialog throughout the process to ensure that the workshop was conducted with sensitivity to current elected officials. There were a verity of concerns that were brought to my attention that needed to be addressed. Some examples:
Initially, there was concern that the workshop would be viewed as a movement to displace current board members and elected officials, particularly those that were older men.

• Providing information on “running against an incumbent” was considered potentially threatening, and so language had to be softened to “skills to run in a challenging race”. 
• Positioning the event as an opportunity for “new candidates” had to be softened as well, to “potential candidates” and “candidates interested in running”. 
• Another concern included a headline in the poster discussing current electoral composition: The phrase “Only 20% are women” was changed to “20% are women. 80% are men.” 

Because of the proximity to federal mid-term elections, there was a request to keep an article announcing the workshop out of the local newspaper until state and federal midterm elections had concluded to maintain the workshop’s non-partisan perspective.
Each of these concerns were surprising to me as I was not used to working with such interest and oversight. One of the ways I needed to adjust was to lengthen the timelines, so that everything could be reviewed before it went out.  Also, I had to double check the info so that constituents could rely in the information in order to build trust in the system. The end result was a great workshop that was well supported, but it made me realize that doing work related to elections requires additional sensitivity!"
Kellie Pederson, Community Development Educator, Bayfield County