Transcript Voter Registration: How To, FAQs, and Tips HOW TO REGISTER SOMEONE TO VOTE.

Voter Registration: How To,
FAQs, and Tips
HOW TO REGISTER SOMEONE TO
VOTE
Who Can Register to Vote?
You must be:
•A US citizen
•At least 18 years old by General Election
•Not currently serving a felony sentence
Who Can Register Others?
Anyone!
• No special certification required
• You don’t have to be eligible to vote yourself
Your Obligation as Registrar
• You cannot coerce someone into registering
for any particular party
• You can complete the form for the voter, but
they must sign it themselves
• If you accept a completed form, you must turn
it into the county Board of Elections before
the deadline
Registration Deadlines
• Mail or turn in completed forms to your
county Board of Elections within 7 days
• To vote in an election, you must register 25
days before
– This rule is firm; there is no more Same Day
Registration during Early Voting
Filling Out the Form: Required!
• Checkboxes in Section 1
• Full legal name in Section 2 (that matches
your ID or SSN)
• Date of birth in Section 2 or 3 (depending on
form)
• Residential address
• Signature
Filling Out the Form: Key Sections
• Identifying numbers – Providing this
information helps the Board of Elections verify
your identity (required by federal law)
– This could be your NC driver’s license or ID or the
last four of your SSN
– If no ID# is listed, you’ll be required to show an
identifying document when you first vote
– On the new form: Focus voter’s attention on
Section 3 and check the box if they have no ID#
Filling Out the Form: Key Sections
• Phone number
– So the Board of Elections can contact the voter if
there are any problems with the form
– Also helpful for Get-Out-the-Vote follow-up calls –
I would delete this; people hate those calls.
• Race, Gender & Ethnicity
– Helps monitor the political process for bias
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Party Should I Register For?
• Tell them “You should choose a party that
most closely aligns with your values or you can
choose to be unaffiliated. I’m not allowed to
recommend a party.”
What’s the Difference Between
Parties?
• Resist the urge to answer this question
yourself.
• Instead say, “You can call or look up the
parties online to find out more about their
positions.”
• You can also use an elected official as an
illustration, “Ronald Reagan was a Republican
President; Barack Obama is a Democratic
President.”
I’ll be 18 Soon. Can I Register?
• If you will be 18 by the General Election in the
fall, then yes.
• You can vote in the primary if you’re 17 but
will be 18 on the day of the General Election.
What if I Have a Felony Conviction?
• Your sentence must be complete (including
any probation or parole) before re-registering.
• Use the same form as anyone else. Re-register
like a new voter.
• No special documents required!
What if I Have a Misdemeanor
Conviction?
• Don’t worry. Your right to vote is not affected
by a misdemeanor conviction, even if you
have served or are currently serving a jail
sentence.
What if I Have Pending Felony
Charges?
• As long as you have not been convicted, your
right to vote is intact.
What If I Don’t Have a Permanent
Address?
• Your residence address is where you sleep or
spend most of your time. If that’s a shelter or a
friend’s house, use that address. If it has no
address, use a shelter or other agency (draw
the sleeping location in the box in section 5.)
• Your mailing address can be a PO Box, a local
shelter, parent’s home – where you get mail.
• Alert: Update your registration when you move.
I Think I’m Already Registered.
• If you have a smart phone or laptop available
say, “I can look up your registration right now
at demnc.co/myreg.”
• If you can’t access the internet say, “You can
find out by calling the State Board of Elections
at (866) 522-4723.”
• Or, just suggest they re-register. The new
registration will update your old one.
What Happens After I Register?
• You should receive a verification card from the
county Board of Elections.
• You may also get a letter asking for more
identifying information. This happens when
the Board of Elections can’t verify your
identity based on the information on the voter
registration form.
– Most common if the person doesn’t provide any
identifying numbers in Section 3.
What If the Voter is Transgender?
• Make sure the name on your ID or Social
Security card matches the name on your voter
registration. Otherwise, it may derail the
verification process.
• Other questions? Call the State Board of
Elections at (866) 522-4723 .
TIPS FOR REGISTERING VOTERS
Let Your Light Shine
• Speak out! If people are already registered or
don’t want to register, they’ll let you know.
• Emphasize “update” or “current” – “Are you
registered at your current address?”
• Enthusiasm works! Stay upbeat and friendly.
Smile and talk to folks passing by. Your
warmth may convince them to stop and
register.
Share Information
• Incorporate voter education into your
conversations. Voting is most exciting in
context.
• Hand out Know Your Rights wallet cards,
information on voting with a felony
conviction, the recent voting law changes, or
other nonpartisan materials.
Make it Easy
• Provide a hard surface for people filling out
the form. It could be a table and chair for a
site-based drive or a clipboard if you’re on
foot.
• Offer to fill out the form for them, if they have
their hands full.
Get That Form!
• Double-check the form before the voter
leaves! Make sure all required & most key
sections are filled out.
• Keep the form and make sure it gets turned in
properly and on time.
• If someone wants to take a form with them,
be sure they know key sections to complete
and where to mail it when done.
What To Expect
• On average, site-based voter drives may yield
5 to 7 registrations an hour per volunteer.
Door-to-door drives may yield fewer per
volunteer team.
• Voter registration can be a slow process. Don’t
get discouraged!
HOLDING A VOTER REGISTRATION
DRIVE
How Will You Register Voters?
• Site-based registration means setting up a
table at a community event, a Wal-Mart, a
church, or other high traffic location.
– These drives often result in higher numbers for
less effort
• Door-to-door registration means going
through a neighborhood.
– These drives allow you to target your efforts to
specific area or neighborhood
Making a Plan
• Pick a date and time: What days and times are
people most likely to be at the site or in the
neighborhood you’ve picked?
• Get permission from location sites, if needed.
• Work with other groups, if possible.
What to Bring
• Voter registration forms and pens (blue and
black ink)
• Signs (“Register to Vote Here”)
• Clipboards (especially if registering on-foot)
• Nonpartisan voter education materials
• Envelope or box for completed forms
• Tables and chairs for both volunteers and
registrants
Also Consider Bringing
• Small giveaways (candy, stickers, or buttons)
• Smart phone or laptop to check voters’ status
online
Coordinating Volunteers
• Recruit more folks than you need to account
for possible last-minute cancellations
• Plan to work in teams of two, especially for
door-to-door canvassing
• Sign volunteers up for shifts of 3-4 hours
Coordinating Volunteers
• Call volunteers the night before to confirm
they’re coming
• Make sure that the drive leader is available to
answer any questions that come up
For More Information
• Visit these websites:
www.NCElectionConnection.com
www.NCSBE.gov
• Call
888-OUR-VOTE (Democracy NC)
866-522-4723 (State Board of Elections)