BISC Launches Revamped Ballot Measure Campaign Resource Library
As the “go-to” organization for ballot measure advocates around the country who need strategic advice on how to run and win inclusive and equitable ballot measure campaigns, BISC has just launched our revamped Partner Portal – our Ballot Measure Campaign Resource Library.
The Resource Library houses ballot-measure information ranging from past campaign materials, to campaign debriefs, to memos highlighting best practices. The library is a one-of-a-kind resource that can help campaigns and organizations build their own strategies and operationalize racial equity into their work and campaigns from the very beginning.
We chatted with Eliana Ramirez, BISC’s Program Coordinator about the resource library, how the needs of progressive ballot measure campaigns have changed in the last year, and how the information in the resource library helps support that shift and build power.
Q: Why was launching the Ballot Measure Campaign Resource Library so important to BISC and our community of ballot measure campaign leaders?
It was important to BISC to hold the space for a “one-stop shop” for our partners who engage in BISC convening spaces and for those who are newer to the ballot measure space, thus the Ballot Measure Resource Library was born. The library contains a myriad of foundational campaign documents, templates, and memoranda from BISC and our partners in the progressive movement and is continually updated with the materials from our monthly convenings. All of the items can be accessed whenever partners need it and the portal is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Q: How have the needs of progressive ballot measure campaigns changed in the last year and how do our resources help support that shift and build power?
Over the last few years, there’s been a real shift in using ballot measures as a tool for long-term power building. The way campaigns are run also shifted under the pandemic restrictions of 2020. BISC worked with our partners to quickly shift, adapt, and gather all of the information we could to keep our partners on the ground updated with the new and evolving campaign approaches. Now all of those tools and resources to operationalize that approach live in our Resource Library.
As more people turn to ballot measures there is a greater need for foundational information and resources. BISC’s presence in the ecosystem is growing as well and this is a great way to connect our newer partners to the resources and highlight the work of our partners over the last few years.
Q: What are some of the highlights within the Ballot Measure Resource Library?
I’ll highlight three of them for you: Our Ballot Measure Adaptations and Considerations Under COVID-19 Toolkit was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic when we hosted a series of five rapid response conversations amongst state leaders, national partners, and funders in the spring of 2020. These convenings provided a national landscape overview of the impact COVID-19 was having on ballot measure campaigns, as well as, how individual campaigns were adapting. These meetings also provided an opportunity for BISC and our partners to identify the strategic opportunities progressives should seize in this moment to adapt and build for a more equitable future. This toolkit is a compilation of resources created by BISC to support states, campaigns, funders, stakeholders, and organizations engaging in ballot measure efforts during the COVID-19 crisis as they adapted in the areas of legal, policy, and field. This will be helpful for future campaign efforts, as things continually shift.
The Declaration of Equity in Ballot Measure Campaigns Toolkit is another one we’re really proud of. This toolkit is a guide for coalitions and ballot measure campaigns on how to use principles of equity and inclusion to win durable victories at the ballot. The DoE details the commitments your campaign makes to each other regarding the practices you will embrace to ensure an equitable and impactful campaign. It is something you and your campaign can customize. The DoE is to be reviewed, adjusted, improved, and incorporated into the ongoing discussions, decisions, and activities of a campaign. Our partners (as well as other organizations outside of ballot measures) have been really enthusiastic about integrating the DoE into their work.
Lastly, BISC’s 2020 Landscape Analysis focuses on several key areas: legal, ballot integrity, and legislative actions; campaign evaluation; and data, research, and long-term strategy. Utilizing both hard and soft data, the analysis looks back at previous trends, analyzes current data, and makes projections and recommendations, as well as outlines BISC actions to support our partners moving forward. This analysis is helpful to utilize in conversations with partners and funders about where your campaign and issue fit within a national context, as well as, the investments needed to continue building in-state capacity in your ongoing work.
Q: How do you access the Ballot Measure Resource Library?
The resource library is available to our partners and people working on progressive ballot measure campaigns. To request access to the library, please head to ballot.org/register. If you have questions about the Ballot Measure Resource Library, you can email [email protected].