diff --git a/openstack_election/templates/combined_voting_kickoff.j2 b/openstack_election/templates/combined_voting_kickoff.j2
index 92b2d0f5..7921a46e 100644
--- a/openstack_election/templates/combined_voting_kickoff.j2
+++ b/openstack_election/templates/combined_voting_kickoff.j2
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ inbox of your Gerrit preferred email[3].
 
 What to do if you don't see the email and have a commit in at
 least one of the projects having an election:
+* due to a new CIVS policy, to vote in a private CIVS pool,
+    you must opt in to email communication
+    opt in with your gerrit email address at:
+    https://civs1.civs.us/cgi-bin/opt_in.pl
 * check the trash or spam folders of your gerrit Preferred
     Email address, in case it went into trash or spam
 * wait a bit and check again, in case your email server is a bit slow