SOCIAL MEDIA FOR VOTER ENGAGEMENT This course is a professional development program on social media and design best practices to help election officials better communicate with voters. Increasingly, people are looking online for election information on mobile deices and social media platforms. With that in mind, this training will equip you with tools to better understand your audience, put information where they are looking for it, and engage them with well-designed graphics.

COURSE OBJECTIVES After completing this course, you will: •

Understand what research tells us about how voters look for election information

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Know how to use Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc. to effectively communicate election information year round

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Learn how to implement basic design principles using Canva to create shareable graphics for your election office

WHAT YOU’LL NEED To participate in this course, you’ll need: •

A computer with internet access 1 CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND CIVIC LIFE | [email protected]



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A pen and paper to take notes and doodle

WHAT YOU’LL GET Everyone who completes this course will receive: •

A pre-training tech skills survey to ensure that our training matches your needs and skill level

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A customized curriculum including instruction, exercises, and hands-on practice

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An original social media graphic post that you’ll design with your new knowledge of design principles and the help of Canva (5-hour programs only)

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A post-training survey to measure impact and solicit feedback

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A copy of the training slide deck for you to use as a resource

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A detailed participant guide for you to reference and use once the training is over

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Follow-up support from CTCL if you have questions about the material covered or need help days, weeks, or months after the course is over (5hour programs only)

AGENDA Social Media for Voter Engagement is available as either a 90-minute seminar or a 5-hour workshop. The 90-minute seminar gives a basic introduction to using social media to 2 CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND CIVIC LIFE | [email protected]



engage voters, while the 5-hour workshop provides a deeper dive into key issues and includes a work block in which participants will create an original social media graphic post with support from CTCL instructors.

90-minute seminar agenda Part 1: Why Social Media Matters (20 minutes) •

Where voters look for information: what research tells us

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How people use mobile devices and social media

Part 2: An Introduction to Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc.* for Elections (40 minutes) •

Overview of Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc. mechanics

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Breakout: defining your brand

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Best practices for creating compelling content

10-minute break Part 3: Fundamentals of Design (20 minutes) •

Basic principles of good design

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Demonstration: how to use Canva to make shareable graphics

5-hour workshop agenda Session 1: Understanding Your Audience (1 hour) •

Where voters look for information: what research tells us

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People are different: how demographics impact information access

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Breakout: the most important questions for voters and nonvoters

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What information voters are looking for -- and when

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Tools to gauge the informational needs of your community 3 CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND CIVIC LIFE | [email protected]



15-minute break Session 2: Reaching Voters Using Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc.* (1 hour) •

Big picture: what is Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc., and how does it work?

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Breakout: defining your brand

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Learning the unique terminology of Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc.

Lunch (1 hour) Session 2, continued (1 hour) •

How to create engaging content

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How to measure the impact and success of your social media efforts

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Guidelines: creating a strong social media policy

15-minute break Session 3: Designing Engaging Content (1.5 hours) •

Basic principles of good design

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Why and how to include accessibility elements in your graphics

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Introduction to Canva

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Work block: using Canva to design an original graphic for Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc.

*You choose which social media platform we’ll cover in the course

COURSE COST Because each training is different, the cost of delivering this course is based on your needs, your location, and the number of participants. To get a price quote, please contact us at [email protected]. 4 CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND CIVIC LIFE | [email protected]



We believe that every election official who is committed to advancing their tech skills should have opportunities to do so. Because we recognize that not all election offices and state associations have professional development funding available, we offer reduced training fees for those who qualify. If you require financial assistance, contact us for information about our scholarship programs.

Social Media for Voter Engagement is one of a series of professional development courses for election officials that are offered by the Center for Technology and Civic Life. Read about our other training programs at www.techandciviclife.org/training. The Center for Technology and Civic Life is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL whose mission is increase people’s access to important civic information. Reach out to us at [email protected]. 5 CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND CIVIC LIFE | [email protected]