Voter Registration DRS Annual Training July 2005

Purposes of the National Voter Registration Act 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 elections.Enhance eligible citizens’ participation as voters in 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 Agencies Agencies for people with disabilities: (DRS, DBVI, DDHH, VOPA, CILs, ESOs)Agencies for people with disabilities: (DRS, DBVI, DDHH, VOPA, 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 Staff 1.Ask each agency applicant if they wish to register to vote. 2.At time client notifies staff of a name or address change, ask if the person wishes to register to vote or update their voter information. 3.Inform each client of the voter eligibility requirements. 4.Provide the same level of assistance in completing the Voter Registration Application as you would for other client forms. Continued…

Continued 5.Complete an Agency Certification form for each client and keep it on file. Complete a new form if the client changes name or address. 6.Complete the Agency Certification form even if the person does not complete the Voter Registration Application.

Continued 7.Transmit the Voter Registration Application, to the local voter registrar, unless the person wishes to mail it themselves. 8.Transmit applications using the official Agency Transmittal Envelope. Do not include agency name on the envelope. 9.Transmit applications within 5 days, unless asked to transmit daily preceding an election.

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 of electionMust be at least 18 years old by date of election Must not claim the right to vote elsewhereMust not claim the right to vote elsewhere Must not currently be in prison/on parole for conviction of a felony or judged mentally incapacitated (unless voting rights have been restored)Must not currently be in prison/on parole for conviction of a felony or judged mentally incapacitated (unless voting rights have been restored)

Voter Registration Application The form is in the Forms Cabinet.

When to Use the Voter Registration Application Use the Voter Registration Application if the agency applicant wishes to:Use the Voter Registration Application if the agency applicant wishes to: – register to vote or –update the name and address on the voter registration rolls.

Completing the Voter Registration Application The person may complete the form alone, or may request your assistance.The person may complete the form alone, or may request your assistance. If you believe the person is not eligible to vote, but they still wish to submit a Voter Registration Application, you may assist them to apply.If you believe the person is not eligible to vote, but they still wish to submit a Voter Registration Application, you may assist them to apply.

Completing the Voter Registration Application Items 1 – 11 on the Application must be completed. The Voter Registrar will deny incomplete forms.Items 1 – 11 on the Application must be completed. The Voter Registrar will deny incomplete forms. The next few slides show the details.The next few slides show the details.

Completing the Voter Registration Application Item 1 - Previous Voter Registration Information

Completing the Voter Registration Application Items 2 – 10 Personal Information Completing the Voter Registration Application Items 2 – 10 Personal Information

Completing the Voter Registration Application Item 11 - Signature

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

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

Agency Certification Form This form is in the Forms Cabinet

When to Use the Agency Certification Form The Voter Registration Agency Certification is documentation that you offered voter registration service to the client.The Voter Registration Agency Certification is documentation that you offered voter registration service to the client. You must complete a form for each agency applicant and each time a client notifies you of a name or address change.You must complete a form for each agency applicant and each time a client notifies you of a name or address change.

Completing the Agency Certification Form One of the boxes must be checked.One of the boxes must be checked. The client prints name, signs and dates the form.The client prints name, signs and dates the form. If the client does not wish to sign, agency staff prints the client’s name, and date, and adds staff initials beside the client’s name. Do not sign for the client.If the client does not wish to sign, agency staff prints the client’s name, and date, and adds staff initials beside the client’s name. Do not sign for the client.

Completing the Agency Certification Form The staff member completes the Agency Only Section. Completing the Agency Certification Form The staff member completes the Agency Only Section.

Filing the Agency Certification Form You must keep the completed form in the place designated by the office supervisor (case file or central location).You must keep the completed form in the place designated by the office supervisor (case file or central location). You may destroy the form at case closure or when you destroy the case.You may destroy the form at case closure or when you destroy the case.

Transmitting Voter Registration Applications The applicant/client may mail the form to the Voter Registrar or may leave it with agency staff to transmit. The applicant/client may mail the form to the Voter Registrar or may leave it with agency staff to transmit. The agency must transmit completed Voter Registration Applications weekly to the Local Voter Registration Office.The agency must transmit completed Voter Registration Applications weekly to the Local Voter Registration Office.

Application Transmittal Envelope

Using the Agency Transmittal Envelope Use the Agency Transmittal Envelope to submit voter registration applications.Use the Agency Transmittal Envelope to submit voter registration applications. The Agency Transmittal Envelope is coded for reporting purposes to indicate the agency category, but not the specific agency.The Agency Transmittal Envelope is coded for reporting purposes to indicate the agency category, but not the specific agency. Do not include the agency name on the envelope.Do not include the agency name on the envelope.

Absentee Ballot Some of your clients may qualify to vote by mail. Registered voters may apply to vote by mail (Absentee Ballot) if they will be unable to vote in person on election day. This includes:Registered voters may apply to vote by mail (Absentee Ballot) if they will be unable to vote in person on election day. This includes: –Student away at school –Person with a physical disability, including inaccessible or rural polling places –Primary caregiver for an ill or disabled family member confined at home Absentee Ballot Application is available through the local Voter Registrar.Absentee Ballot Application is available through the local Voter Registrar.

FAQs If I take the client’s agency application somewhere other than the agency office, do I still offer voter registration services?If I take the client’s agency application somewhere other than the agency office, do I still offer voter registration services? –Yes. How will the client know if the Voter Registration Application was approved?How will the client know if the Voter Registration Application was approved? –If approved, the local voter registrar will mail the client a voter identification card. Does Virginia register by party affiliation?Does Virginia register by party affiliation? –No. Will the client’s choice to register to vote or not affect the services the agency may provide?Will the client’s choice to register to vote or not affect the services the agency may provide? –No.

Questions � Please direct all questions to Mary Lutkenhaus, DRS Voter Registration