Leveraging Our Collective Power

We believe everyone should be involved in public life. We cannot depend on others to do things for us, but instead must act in order to improve the quality of life for ourselves, our families, and our communities. Our goal is to ensure that everyone—from US citizens and registered voters to our friends with unstable status and neighbors—recognizes their power and role in our democracy.

To do this, we: 

  • Activate grassroots leaders to organize the community

  • Register new voters

  • Help our neighbors engage with their elected officials 

  • Educate voters on the election process

I Vote for My Family is a nonpartisan initiative to promote civic participation and education.

"I've been canvassing for 4 years and I won't stop until we get everyone involved. North Omaha needs inner peace and voters to exercise their rights"

Jeanette Dortch

North Omaha Community Leader

Advocacy

Using leadership development and community organizing as our foundation, our goal is to ensure the grassroots leaders are engaged in public life. It is our priority to ensure all eligible voters vote, ensuring their voices are heard, while positioning these leaders to work on public policies with elected officials.

We believe everyone should be involved in public life. We cannot depend on others to do things for us, but instead must ACT in order to improve their quality of life for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

To do this, we teach leaders that one simple way to be involved is by voting. Civic engagement also includes engaging with our elected officials, even once they’re in office, speaking with them about issues we care about.

Yet, many people do not know how the election process works, how to contact their elected officials, or even how to relate their own issues to the different positions up for election. Therefore, this model follows Saul Alinsky’s Iron Rule of not doing for others what they can do for themselves—but if they don’t know how, we must teach them.

Resources

Below are responses to common questions HWC receives about voting and elections in the state of Nebraska.

  • No, once you register you do not have to register again. However, you will need to update your registration if you recently moved, changed your last name or decided to change political affiliation.

  • Yes, you can vote in the 2024 primary election if you turn 18 years old before Nov. 5, 2024.

  • Yes, you can still vote in person on Election Day but you will need to make sure to request a provisional ballot at your polling place. This is to ensure that there are no duplicated voting ballots.

  • Voters who have difficulty reading, are visually-impaired or have another physical disability may request assistance in marking their ballots. The voter may have a friend or relative assist them OR the voter may request the assistance of two election board workers, one from each of the major political parties.

    In addition, a ballot-marking device called the ExpressVote is available to assist voters at every polling place. ExpressVote allows the voter to have all elections and candidates read to them through headphones.

  • No, this envelope has to be dropped off at the designated drop box locations.