Introduction
This guide by the European Center for Digital Actions explores strategic avenues for progressive organizations to amplify their issues, sway voter opinion, and counteract the rise of the far right.
Strategies
1. Organize debates between candidates about the issue
Greenpeace Hungary organized a debate between the prime minister candidates during the second round of the Hungarian primaries in 2022, calling it a Climate debate. (Learn more here link)
2. Send a questionnaire to the candidates and publish their answers
Many NGOs send out questionnaires on their topics before elections to candidates and then publish the answers. (Learn more here link)
3. Asking candidates to join their cause and then publish who joined
Amnesty International Italy had a ten-point demand not to turn back on human rights during the 2022 elections that they asked candidates to support. (Learn more here link)
4. Launching petitions where people can show their support and demand candidates to implement certain issues if elected
During the 2022 elections in Italy, Amnesty International also launched petitions on issues that people could support. (Learn more here link)
5. Convincing people to get out and vote for candidates who support the organization’s cause
Greenpeace USA is currently running a campaign on “climate voters” where they ask people to support Democratic candidates who are supporting the Green New Deal and not accepting money from the fossil fuel industry. (Learn more here link)
6. Warning people what will happen if the “enemy” of organization’s cause gets or stays in power
In 2023 Wschód, a Polish movement, launched a very effective video campaign with a strong mobilization statement at the end, demonstrating what would happen if the government was reelected. (See the video here link)
7. Telling people why it is important to go out and vote – as it is also about the cause
For example, if you are an environmental NGO and you write an email about the climate crisis explaining that the election is also about this topic – that people must vote about saving the planning – motivating and mobilizing people to vote who otherwise might not have.
8. Speaking about the larger landscape, specifically in terms of the European Parliament elections, to strengthen the parties who are in favor of your cause
For example, a more humane refugee and migration policy in the EU is supported by certain groups/parties.
9. Creating joint campaigns with other similar NGOS
Use messaging like vote tripling, save the date for the election, or sending info to people on how to vote and not just who to vote for. (Learn more here link)
10. Using offline campaigns to emphasize your message
Use stickers to mobilize people to vote. You should include the date and one single good slogan as to why it is important.
11. Organizing events
Use voter brunches, parties and picnics with a message of meeting up on voting day to go out and vote together.
12. Creating handouts or brochures to help voters choose candidates
One idea is an “ideological compass” for voters that is created with some basic questions to help them find who to vote for. You can make such a tool available to people who fill out a form and provide their email addresses.
13. And finally, recruiting people to monitor the legality of voting
This is a very high bar ask and rather apolitical, but it can still be an activity for some NGOs.
Conclusion
The role of single-issue NGOs in shaping the political landscape has never been more significant. By leveraging these strategies, organizations can drive voter engagement, influence policy outcomes, and champion progressive change.