Recap of NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes National Webinar: “Voter Registration 2026: Tools, Rules, and Strategies for Low-Income Renters”

By Haadia Hyder, NLIHC Strategic Partnerships & Campaigns Intern

On Tuesday, August 9, NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes (OHOV) nonpartisan campaign hosted its monthly webinar, with August’s session, “Voter Registration 2026: Tools, Rules, and Strategies for Low-Income Renters,” focused on proactive measures to drive voter registration in a safe, effective, and non-partisan manner. 

While previous webinars focused on the current election landscape post-Louisiana v. Callais, August’s OHOV webinar gave participants tangible tools and skills to engage their communities in voter registration and participation. Panelists focused on resources available through Nonprofit VOTE’s National Voter Registration Day and Register Her’s V.O.I.C.E trainings.  

Chantelle Wilkinson, NLIHC’s vice president of strategic partnerships and campaigns, welcomed attendees and drew attention to why voter mobilization at this moment matters with 2026 Midterms drawing near. Wilkinson also noted that it is currently August recess in Congress, which means policymakers will be back in their home states and communities, making now a particularly good time to meet with them about your organization’s policy priorities. You can find more information on August Recess and strategically engage with policymakers through NLIHC’s August Recess toolkit. Wilkenson also highlights that September 16 is National Voter Registration Day, making it a particularly good date around which to plan voter registration programming. 

Chyanne Sapp, campaign director at National Voter Registration Day, began by focusing on the urgency of running voter drives and engaging with voters in our trying times. She highlighted the stakes of the 2026 midterms with hundreds of elected seats up for grabs at a time where Americans are increasingly impacted by the state of policy and politics, making voter mobilization more pertinent than ever. Sapp’s presentation centered on the logistics of planning a National Voter Registration Day event and went over the rules of being a National Voter Registration Day partner (you can sign up to be a National Voter Registration Day partner), highlighting the need for community members to take charge in registering their communities to vote and prioritizing key tenets: knowing your community, knowing your facts, and knowing your tools. You can find links to National Voter Registration Day fact sheets, voter registration guides, prior webinars, and more.  

Rachel Jeck, Co-founder and Executive Director of Register Her, expanded upon the theme of engaging community members in voter registration by highlighting Register Her, an organization dedicated to bringing no-charge voter registration training to workplaces. Jeck began by highlighting the role of nonprofits in civic engagement and reviewing common fears around conversations about voting, providing new strategies and tools to empower employees to discuss and advocate for voting in the workplace while maintaining legal compliance. 

The webinar concluded with Tia Turner, NLIHC Project Manager for Our Homes, Our Votes, noting how Our Homes, Our Votes in the upcoming months will focus on equipping partners with skills and knowledge in preparation for Get Out the Vote. Turner also mentioned that the next Our Homes, Our Votes webinar will focus on combating election misinformation, bringing in experts across the field. She also highlighted Our Homes, Our Votes’ TurboVote tool, ready to be utilized by partner organizations. If your organization would like a custom link to our TurboVote tool, email [email protected]. To join Our Homes, Our Votes’ affiliate network, click here.  

Across the webinar, panelists emphasized the necessity for tailored, community-specific outreach from individuals across the country, homing in on the idea that it is not just our civic duty to vote, but to encourage our friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers to vote as well.  

Presentation Slides 

Find presentation slides. 

The next Our Homes, Our Votes webinar, “Combating Misinformation: Equipping Housing Advocates as Trusted Messengers in 2026,” will take place on Monday, September 14, at 3:00 pm ET. 

Stay Connected with OHOV 

Subscribe to the Our Homes, Our Votes Monthly Newsletter to receive the latest updates on voting rights, civic engagement resources, upcoming webinars, and opportunities to take action at the intersection of housing justice and democracy. 

Follow Our Homes, Our Votes on Instagram.

The recording of the webinar can be found on NLIHC's YouTube channel. 

Additional resources shared during the webinar: 

• OHOV Resource Hub 
• OHOV Webinar Series 
• Check Your Voter Registration 
• Tools from Register Her 
• Tools from National Voter Registration Day 
• NLIHC’s August Recess toolkit 

March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote 

On Friday, August 28, 2026, a broad coalition of civil rights, labor, faith, and civic organizations will gather at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote, marking the 63rd anniversary of the historic 1963 March on Washington. The nonpartisan mobilization will center on defending voting rights while also advancing economic dignity, equal opportunity, and affordability, including access to safe and affordable housing.  

We encourage NLIHC partners and housing advocates to learn more, register to participate, and share the opportunity with their networks as we continue working together to strengthen civic participation and ensure that every community has a voice in our democracy. 

Learn more and register for the March on Washington 2026.