2005 NVRA Annual Training

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Voter Registration DRS Annual TrainingJuly
2005
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Purposes of the National Voter Registration Act
1993

• 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.

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Voter Registration Agencies

• 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!

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Legal Obligations of Agency Staff

• Ask each agency applicant if they wish to
  register to vote.
• 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.
• Inform each client of the voter eligibility
  requirements.
• Provide the same level of assistance in
  completing the Voter Registration Application as
  you would for other client forms.
• Continued

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Continued

• 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.

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Continued

• 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.

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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)

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Voter Registration Application
The form is in the Forms Cabinet.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Completing the Voter Registration Application
Item 1 - Previous Voter Registration Information
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Completing theVoter Registration Application
Items 2 10 Personal Information
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Completing the Voter Registration Application
Item 11 - Signature
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Completing the Voter Registration
ApplicationLEO/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.

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Completing theVoter Registration Application

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

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Agency Certification Form
This form is in the Forms Cabinet
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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.

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Completing theAgency 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 clients name, and date, and adds
  staff initials beside the clients name. Do not
  sign for the client.

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

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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.

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Application Transmittal Envelope
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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.

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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.

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FAQs

• If I take the clients 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 clients choice to register to vote or
  not affect the services the agency may provide?
• No.

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Questions

• ?
• Please direct all questions to
• Mary Lutkenhaus, DRS Voter Registration
  Coordinator
• Mary.Lutkenhaus_at_drs.virginia.gov