NOVEMBER 2022 ELECTION RESULTS AND ANALYSIS – IMPACT ON THE DANCE ECOSYSTEM – Updated November 15
Here is a LINK to the latest November 8, 2022 election results and their impact on the dance ecosystem and overall arts and cultural sector. This is living document which will be updated when new information becomes available.
Dance/USA, as a nonpartisan organization, remains focused and committed to ensuring the dance ecosystem has a favorable environment to provide highly-valued performances, educational events, and cultural programs. Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations.
The elections at all levels of government are consequential, especially – at this time – for the future viability of the dance ecosystem and overall arts and cultural sector. It is essential for all creative workers to do their civic responsibility as American citizens and ambassadors of the arts and cultural sector to vote to protect the arts now and in the future.
Dance/USA encourages all who are supportive of the arts to vote, vote early, and to spread the word throughout the arts sector and in their local communities to vote to support the arts that strengthen schools, students, families, local communities, and the nation!
Dance/USA has developed an elections toolkit with the objective, along with the get-out-to-vote campaign – #Dance2Vote, to ensure creative workers, interested stakeholders, and the general public have the most accurate information about voting during each election cycle and know the relevant issues impacting the dance industry and overall arts and cultural sector.
WHO IS UP FOR ELECTION IN 2024?
The November 2024 elections are scheduled for Tuesday, November 2, 2024! It will be a Presidential election year.
At the federal level, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested.
At the state level, gubernational seats in 11 states and two U.S. territories (American Samoa and Puerto Rico) will be up for election. It is interesting to note that the previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2020, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms and elected their governors in 2022. Hundreds of state legislative seats across the country will be contested.
At the local level, thousands of local government seats will be contested across the country. Please go to the website of your local board of elections to find out more about your local elections and referenda to be voted upon.
It is important to note the Internal Revenue Code that governs section 501(c)(3) organizations concerning elections. Under the Internal Revenue Code, such organizations are “absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Any contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.” In other words, 501(c)3 organizations cannot ask people to vote for specific candidates and they cannot donate funds to political candidates or political campaigns.
However, 501(c)3 organizations can encourage people to participate in the election process, including voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, in a non-partisan way and without bias towards a certain candidate(s) or political party. 501(c)3 organizations can contact candidates and parties in an election, both to seek their views on issues and to communicate the organization’s views. 501(c)3 organizations CAN also take public positions on local referenda, ballot initiatives, propositions, tax levies, etc., if they do not cross the line into party or candidate endorsement.
Individuals within 501(c)3organizations CAN get involved in elections, as American citizens, as much as they want. However, individuals are not allowed to associate themselves with their organization in any way in their political activities.
Click HERE for further information concerning allowable and prohibited activities during elections under the Internal Revenue Code that governs 501(c)(3) organizations. Click HERE for further information concerning lobbying activities under the Internal Revenue Code that governs 501(c)(3) organizations.
It is important for voters to be safe if they decide to vote in person or deliver their ballots in person to their respective polling places. Dance/USA recommends that voters still practice social distancing, wear personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, and wash their hands or use sanitizer immediately after voting to protect against the virus. Please note that states and local governments may have additional health and safety protocols for their elections. Please check your state and local election office websites for further information.
Every American citizen should be registered to vote as this is a civic responsibility. Below are the voter registration deadlines for voting in person in each of the 50 states, Washington, DC and the U.S. territories. Click on the state to find out how to register and/or register with your secretary of state. Based on where you reside, information may be available concerning the ability to vote by mail and absentee ballot. State election websites also provide polling place locators and voter ID requirements (i.e., current driver’s license or state-issued ID).
U.S. Territories
*** Most of the Information is compiled from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent, bipartisan commission established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, that serves to be a national clearinghouse of information on election administration.
Besides voting, creative workers and interested stakeholders should engage candidates from all the political parties about various issues impacting the arts. There are and will be numerous opportunities this fall season to engage in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, candidate forums, debates, social media chats, and town halls. Nonprofit VOTE has great information about effectively engaging political candidates. Below are a listing of major issues impacting the dance community and the arts sector.
CONTINUED MAJOR CHALLENGES
Candidates from all the political parties need to know how the pandemic and adverse weather conditions this year have impacted your company, non-profit organization, individual creative workers, and the overall arts and cultural sector. It is important that they know how you, your company or non-profit organization, and the overall arts and cultural sector can be supported to survive and thrive during these challenging times as the arts and cultural sector is a unique and major economic contributor at the national, state, and local levels. Most state arts councils have economic data that can be shared with all political candidates about the arts sector’s economic contributions beyond the cultural and creative contributions. Below are key issues that Dance/USA tracks and advocates in support of on behalf of the dance ecosystem. Please utilize these issue briefs in your ongoing advocacy engagement with your elected officials.
Key Policy Issues
Additional Policy Issues
Below are additional resources to inform voters during the elections at all levels. Please note that Dance/USA is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse or oppose political candidates or political parties. Please let Dance/USA know if there are any additional resources that should be listed to ensure all interested stakeholders have the most accurate information heading into the next election. Please contact Tony Shivers, Director of Government Affairs, at tshivers@nulldanceusa.org with any further resources or information.
Voter Resource Information
Arts-Related Voter Engagement Resources
Other Get-Out-The-Vote Efforts
Major Political Party Information
Dance/USA encourages creative workers and interested stakeholders to vote, vote early, and spread the word to their families, colleagues, friends, and local communities. Social media and email are powerful, effective, and efficient ways to accomplish this objective. Below are sample social media posts, emails, and stickers that can be leveraged.
Sample Social Media Posts
Below are suggested posts for Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram heading into the next election and during Election Day. Once you have voted in-person, please take a picture with your I VOTED sticker outside of the polling place. If voting by mail, please take a picture of yourself dropping off your sealed ballot at the post office. Please post your pictures to your social media platforms and use the hashtag #Dance2Vote to emphasize the importance of voting and the need to support the dance industry and overall arts and cultural sector. Below are sample social media posts you can tailor and use.
Sample General Email
Just a reminder that elections at all levels are consequential elections for families, individuals, and the arts community. Please register to vote, vote early, and spread the word to your family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Further information about voter registration, voting by mail or in-person, and being safe during the election season can be found at #Dance2Vote, which provides a variety of resources to ensure voters are informed heading into the polls.
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Sample Arts-Specific Email
Just a reminder that the November 8 elections at all levels are consequential elections for the arts. We need to ensure that the dance workers and other creative workers are supported during these challenging times as important contributors to the economy at all levels. Please register to vote, vote early, and spread the word to your family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Further information about voter registration, voting by mail or in-person, and issues impacting the arts can be found at #Dance2Vote.
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Need a Voting Sticker?
“I Work For A Nonprofit And I Vote” by Nonprofit Vote (for use with Avery Sticker Printer Paper)
Any questions or inquiries about the Dance/USA #Dance2Vote campaign, 2022 election toolkit, voting during the next election, and/or issues impacting the dance ecosystem and overall arts and cultural sector, should be directed to Tony Shivers, director of government affairs at tshivers@nulldanceusa.org.
Please note that this toolkit will be updated on a regular basis as new information becomes available.
