FAQ
How It Works
My company wants to help! What do I do?
Check out the Action Map and see if there’s an option that suits your company. If not, please fill out our Offer Support form and tell us how and where you’d like to help. We’ll do our best to find the right activity for your company.
I’m an individual who wants to help! What do I do?
Check out the Action Map for ways to help. There are lots of options all over the country. If you don’t find a match today, be sure to check back as we add new opportunities every week. Be sure to invite your friends, too!
I’m an election official and I’d like to have my state / county needs added to the map. What do I do?
Fill out our Request Support form. We’ll review your request and get back to you soon.
I want my nonpartisan nonprofit opportunities to be on the map. What do I do?
Fill out our Request Support form. We’ll review your request and get back to you soon.
Background
What is Operation Vote Safe?
Operation Vote Safe is a nonpartisan initiative to help provide the support and supplies necessary for voters to participate safely in the 2020 election. Our primary focus is to mobilize the business community with activities such as helping to recruit election workers, providing protective equipment and food for poll workers, and getting out the word about early voting.
Who can contribute to Operation Vote Safe?
Anyone can contribute! While our work has focused on recruiting support from the business community and its workforce, every American is invited to chip in.
How did Operation Vote Safe originate?
The concept for Operation Vote Safe originally came from two secretaries of state who face a shortage of resources to run their elections. Keeping election workers and voters safe during COVID-19 requires tremendous additional expenses for PPE and social distancing at the polls. Many election workers in high-risk groups have had to step away from working the polls in 2020. All this comes at a time when state revenues have plummeted due to the economic crisis.
Election administrators need our help to ensure the 2020 election is safe, secure, and accessible for every voter.
Who is behind Operation Vote Safe?
Inspired by secretaries of state seeking business support, Operation Vote Safe was conceptualized by Business for America and developed in partnership with the National Election Defense Coalition, global consulting firm Kearney, and HealthEquip for Vote Safe by REI Co-op.
The Basics
How does Operation Vote Safe work?
We’re helping to publicize two sets of needs:
State and local election officials. We’re working directly with election administrators to document and publicize their needs, and see if we can help provide assistance.
Nonpartisan nonprofits offering voter support. We’re working with nonpartisan nonprofit organizations that help to get out the vote and ensure voters can cast their ballots safely and securely, whether by mail or in-person.
We present those needs in our Action Map and invite businesses, their workforce, and Americans anywhere to take action to help meet those needs.
Why is the private sector involved? Shouldn’t the government be paying for this stuff?
Unfortunately, Congress has not appropriated the funds needed to safely administer the election, and the states are unable to make up the shortfall during this economic crisis. Ensuring all voters can cast a secure ballot without risking their health requires help from all sectors of society.
What do businesses receive in exchange for their participation in Operation Vote Safe?
All contributions to state or local election officials are given with no expectation of any favor in return.
But there is the satisfaction of helping an important cause!
Is this legal?
Operation Vote Safe complies with all laws and regulations.
Laws do vary from state to state on what forms of assistance the state and counties can accept for elections.
Is this political?
Operation Vote Safe is a nonpartisan initiative and does not accept support from nor provide assistance to partisan political organizations.
Our intention is to ensure that voters can participate safely in the 2020 election, that election officials have the support they need, that poll worker risk is minimized, and the election process goes as smoothly as possible.
Tech Platform
How was the Action Map built?
The Action Map was built by Kearney using Microsoft Power BI.
Why don’t you make the action links clickable?
Power BI has limits that do not allow clickable links in the table data. However, you can copy the relevant URL and paste it into your web browser address field.
Why do some of the county lines go beyond the state boundaries?
Power BI uses Bing Maps, and this is an artifact of how Bing designates county borders.
How was HealthEquip for Vote Safe by REI Co-op built?
With sponsorship by REI Co-op, HealthEquip was originally created in response to COVID-19 to address PPE supply chain issues and get PPE in the hands of health care providers who need it most.
With PPE now in good supply, HealthEquip’s usefulness can be extended to provide PPE and other supplies to other good causes — including Operation Vote Safe and the 2020 election.