Transcript 2005 NVRA Annual Training - Department for Aging and

Voter Registration
DRS Annual Training
July 2005
Purposes of the
National Voter Registration Act 1993
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Increase number of eligible citizens who register to vote.
Enhance eligible citizens’ participation as voters in elections.
Protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Maintain accurate and current voter registration rolls.
Voter Registration Agencies
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Agencies for people with disabilities: (DRS, DBVI, DDHH, VOPA, CILs, ESOs)
DMV
Public assistance agencies (Health, DSS, DMHMRSAS)
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…
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Complete an Agency Certification form for each client and keep it on file.
Complete a new form if the client changes name or address.
Complete the Agency Certification form even if the person does not
complete the Voter Registration Application.
Continued
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Transmit the Voter Registration Application, to the local voter
registrar, unless the person wishes to mail it themselves.
Transmit applications using the official Agency Transmittal
Envelope. Do not include agency name on the envelope.
Transmit applications within 5 days, unless asked to transmit
daily preceding an election.
Who May Register to Vote?
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must live in Virginia
• Must be at least 18 years old by date of
election
• Must 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)
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:
– 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.
• 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.
• 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
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.
Completing the
Voter Registration 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.
• 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.
• 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.
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 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 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.
• 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.
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:
– 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.
FAQs
• 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?
– If approved, the local voter registrar will mail the client a
voter identification card.
• 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?
– No.
Questions
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Please direct all questions to
Mary Lutkenhaus, DRS Voter Registration Coordinator
[email protected]