Ballot Measures and Housing

Thank you to everyone who joined Tuesday’s (9/6) Our Homes, Our Votes webinar, “Ballot Measures and Housing”!

Ballot measures are powerful mechanisms to secure tenant protections and significant investments in housing programs at the state and local levels. Bringing issues directly to the voters can be an expensive and complex undertaking but often produces transformative results. This session discussed how to get housing on the ballot and carry out a successful ballot measure campaign.

Ben Kelly, communications consultant, summarized the categories of housing-related ballot measures, previewed some significant measures that will appear on local ballots in upcoming elections, and offered insights on what to expect in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Chris Bowen, public policy organizer at Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing (SCANPH), described the United to House LA Campaign, which would enact a real-estate transfer tax on high-value properties and make permanent investments in housing programs targeted towards people experiencing homelessness and extremely low-income renters. Chris emphasized the importance of working in a broad coalition and connecting directly with voters to enact ballot measures with strong popular mandates. Courtney Cooperman, housing advocacy organizer at NLIHC, gave an overview of NLIHC’s recent report, “Housing on the Ballot: How to Organize a Successful Ballot Measure Campaign for Affordable Homes.” Courtney also shared a new Vote Early Day grant opportunity.

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Sept 19

Early Voting and Vote-By-Mail

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The next webinar, “Early Voting and Vote-By-Mail,” will be held on Monday, September 19, at 2:30 pm ET. Early voting and vote-by-mail are important options for people who might face obstacles to voting on Election Day – including people with inflexible schedules, childcare responsibilities, or limited transportation options. The COVID-19 pandemic has made vote-by-mail an especially important option when it comes to ensuring that voting is accessible to all. Panelists will discuss how to navigate state laws and incorporate early voting and vote-by-mail into get-out-the-vote (GOTV) strategies. The panel will feature Bryce Bennett, project director at Vote Early Day, and Cris Wegner, GOTV coordinator at Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition.