Voter RegistrationVoter Registration

DRS Annual TrainingDRS Annual TrainingJuly 2005July 2005

Purposes of the Purposes of the National Voter Registration National Voter Registration

Act 1993Act 1993• Increase number of eligible citizens who register to vote.Increase number of eligible citizens who register to vote.• Enhance eligible citizens’ participation as voters in Enhance eligible citizens’ participation as voters in

elections.elections.• Protect the integrity of the electoral process.Protect the integrity of the electoral process.• Maintain accurate and current voter registration rolls. Maintain accurate and current voter registration rolls.

Voter Registration AgenciesVoter Registration Agencies

• Agencies for people with disabilities: Agencies for people with disabilities: (DRS, DBVI, DDHH, VOPA, (DRS, DBVI, DDHH, VOPA, CILs, ESOs)CILs, ESOs)

• DMVDMV• Public assistance agencies (Health, DSS, DMHMRSAS) Public assistance agencies (Health, DSS, DMHMRSAS) • Other designated agencies (Armed Forces Recruiting, etc.)Other designated agencies (Armed Forces Recruiting, etc.)

If the client is being served through multiple agencies, each agency must offer the opportunity to register to vote and keep an Agency Certification on file!

Legal Obligations of Agency Legal Obligations of Agency StaffStaff1.1. Ask each agency applicant if they wish to Ask each agency applicant if they wish to

register to vote.register to vote.2.2. At time client notifies staff of a name or address At time client notifies staff of a name or address

change, ask if the person wishes to register to change, ask if the person wishes to register to vote or update their voter information.vote or update their voter information.

3.3. Inform each client of the voter eligibility Inform each client of the voter eligibility requirements. requirements.

4.4. Provide the same level of assistance in Provide the same level of assistance in completing the Voter Registration Application as completing the Voter Registration Application as you would for other client forms.you would for other client forms.

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5.5. Complete an Agency Certification form for each client Complete an Agency Certification form for each client and keep it on file. Complete a new form if the client and keep it on file. Complete a new form if the client changes name or address. changes name or address.

6.6. Complete the Agency Certification form even if the Complete the Agency Certification form even if the person does not complete the Voter Registration person does not complete the Voter Registration ApplicationApplication..

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7.7. Transmit the Voter Registration Application, to Transmit the Voter Registration Application, to the local voter registrar, unless the person the local voter registrar, unless the person wishes to mail it themselves. wishes to mail it themselves.

8.8. Transmit applications using the official Agency Transmit applications using the official Agency Transmittal Envelope. Do not include agency Transmittal Envelope. Do not include agency name on the envelope.name on the envelope.

9.9. Transmit applications within 5 days, unless Transmit applications within 5 days, unless asked to transmit daily preceding an election.asked to transmit daily preceding an election.

Who May Register to Vote?Who May Register to Vote?

• Must be a U.S. CitizenMust be a U.S. Citizen• Must live in VirginiaMust live in Virginia• Must be at least 18 years old by date Must be at least 18 years old by date

of electionof election• Must not claim the right to vote Must not claim the right to vote

elsewhereelsewhere• Must not currently be in prison/on Must not currently be in prison/on

parole for conviction of a felony or parole for conviction of a felony or judged mentally incapacitated (unless judged mentally incapacitated (unless voting rights have been restored)voting rights have been restored)

Voter Registration Application Voter Registration Application

The form is in the Forms Cabinet.The form is in the Forms Cabinet.

When to Use the When to Use the Voter Registration ApplicationVoter Registration Application

• Use the Voter Registration Use the Voter Registration Application if the agency Application if the agency applicant wishes to:applicant wishes to:– register to vote or register to vote or – update the name and address on the update the name and address on the

voter registration rolls.voter registration rolls.

Completing the Completing the Voter Registration ApplicationVoter Registration Application

• The person may complete the form alone, The person may complete the form alone, or may request your assistance. or may request your assistance.

• If you believe the person is not eligible to If you believe the person is not eligible to vote, but they still wish to submit a Voter vote, but they still wish to submit a Voter Registration Application, you may assist Registration Application, you may assist them to apply. them to apply.

Completing the Completing the Voter Registration Voter Registration

ApplicationApplication• Items 1 – 11 on the Application must be Items 1 – 11 on the Application must be

completed. The Voter Registrar will deny completed. The Voter Registrar will deny incomplete forms. incomplete forms.

• The next few slides show the details.The next few slides show the details.

Completing the Completing the Voter Registration Voter Registration

Application Application Item 1 - Previous Voter Registration InformationItem 1 - Previous Voter Registration Information

Completing theCompleting theVoter Registration Voter Registration

Application Application Items 2 – 10 Personal InformationItems 2 – 10 Personal Information

Completing the Completing the Voter Registration Voter Registration

ApplicationApplicationItem 11 - SignatureItem 11 - Signature

Completing the Completing the Voter Registration Voter Registration

ApplicationApplicationLEO/PRO/Threatened/StalkedLEO/PRO/Threatened/Stalked• Rretired or active duty law enforcement agents (LEO); Rretired or active duty law enforcement agents (LEO);

those that have a protective order in place (PRO); and those that have a protective order in place (PRO); and those who are in fear of their personal safety from those who are in fear of their personal safety from someone and have filed a complaint against that person someone and have filed a complaint against that person with a magistrate or law enforcement (which a copy must with a magistrate or law enforcement (which a copy must be presented); may provide a PO Box as a “Mailing be presented); may provide a PO Box as a “Mailing Address” and have the resident address suppressed on all Address” and have the resident address suppressed on all documents, reports or listing generated by the State documents, reports or listing generated by the State Board of Elections. Any applicant that falls into this Board of Elections. Any applicant that falls into this category category mustmust provide a PO Box on the Application. provide a PO Box on the Application.

Completing theCompleting theVoter Registration ApplicationVoter Registration Application

• If the person requires disability If the person requires disability accommodation to vote, check the appropriate accommodation to vote, check the appropriate box at the bottom of the Application.box at the bottom of the Application.

Agency Certification FormAgency Certification Form

This form is in the Forms CabinetThis form is in the Forms Cabinet

When to Use the When to Use the Agency Certification FormAgency Certification Form

•• The Voter Registration Agency The Voter Registration Agency Certification is documentation that Certification is documentation that you offered voter registration you offered voter registration service to the client. service to the client.

• You must complete a form for each You must complete a form for each agency applicant and each time a agency applicant and each time a client notifies you of a name or client notifies you of a name or address change. address change.

Completing theCompleting theAgency Certification FormAgency Certification Form

• One of the boxes must One of the boxes must be checked. be checked.

• The client prints The client prints name, signs and dates name, signs and dates the form.the form.

• If the client does not If the client does not wish to sign, agency wish to sign, agency staff prints the client’s staff prints the client’s name, and date, and name, and date, and adds staff initials adds staff initials beside the client’s beside the client’s name. Do not sign for name. Do not sign for the client. the client.

Completing the Completing the Agency Agency

Certification FormCertification Form The staff member completes the Agency Only The staff member completes the Agency Only

Section.Section.

Filing the Filing the Agency Certification FormAgency Certification Form

• You must keep the completed You must keep the completed form in the place designated by form in the place designated by the office supervisor (case file or the office supervisor (case file or central location). central location).

• You may destroy the form at You may destroy the form at case closure or when you case closure or when you destroy the case.destroy the case.

Transmitting Transmitting Voter Registration Voter Registration

ApplicationsApplications

•• The applicant/client may mail the form to the Voter The applicant/client may mail the form to the Voter Registrar or may leave it with agency staff to transmit.Registrar or may leave it with agency staff to transmit.

• The agency must transmit completed Voter The agency must transmit completed Voter Registration Applications weekly to the Local Voter Registration Applications weekly to the Local Voter Registration Office. Registration Office.

Application Transmittal Application Transmittal EnvelopeEnvelope

Using the Using the Agency Transmittal Agency Transmittal

EnvelopeEnvelope• Use the Agency Transmittal Envelope to Use the Agency Transmittal Envelope to

submit voter registration applications. submit voter registration applications. • The Agency Transmittal Envelope is coded The Agency Transmittal Envelope is coded

for reporting purposes to indicate the for reporting purposes to indicate the agency category, but not the specific agency category, but not the specific agency. agency.

• Do not include the agency name on the Do not include the agency name on the envelope.envelope.

Absentee BallotAbsentee Ballot• Some of your clients may qualify to vote by

mail.• Registered votersRegistered voters may apply to vote by mail may apply to vote by mail

(Absentee Ballot) if they will be unable to vote (Absentee Ballot) if they will be unable to vote in person on election day. This includes:in person on election day. This includes:– Student away at schoolStudent away at school– Person with a physical disability, including Person with a physical disability, including

inaccessible or rural polling placesinaccessible or rural polling places– Primary caregiver for an ill or disabled Primary caregiver for an ill or disabled

family member confined at homefamily member confined at home• Absentee Ballot Application is available Absentee Ballot Application is available

through the local Voter Registrar.through the local Voter Registrar.

FAQsFAQs• If I take the client’s agency application somewhere If I take the client’s agency application somewhere

other than the agency office, do I still offer voter other than the agency office, do I still offer voter registration services?registration services?– Yes.Yes.

• How will the client know if the Voter Registration How will the client know if the Voter Registration Application was approved?Application was approved?– If approved, the local voter registrar will mail the If approved, the local voter registrar will mail the

client a voter identification card. client a voter identification card. • Does Virginia register by party affiliation?Does Virginia register by party affiliation?

– No.No.• Will the client’s choice to register to vote or not Will the client’s choice to register to vote or not

affect the services the agency may provide?affect the services the agency may provide?– No.No.

QuestionsQuestions

��Please direct all questions to Please direct all questions to

Mary Lutkenhaus, DRS Voter Registration Coordinator

Mary.Lutkenhaus@drs.virginia.govMary.Lutkenhaus@drs.virginia.gov