NVRA Program Results

As a result of your efforts, almost 28,000 voters have either registered to vote or updated their voter registration record at public assistance agencies in North Carolina this year.

42,672 applications were submitted in 2008.33,705 applications were submitted in 2009.

National Recognition

North Carolina became a national leader in NVRA implementation even without the need for litigation.

After being presented in summer 2006 with statistical data and evidence from field

investigations indicating non-compliance, the North Carolina State Board of Elections . . . acted quickly

to develop and roll out an effective re-implementation plan. . .

Voting in 2010: Ten Swing States, a report by Demos and Common Cause (August 2010)

National Recognition

As a result, the number of registrations from North Carolina’s public assistance offices has increased over six-fold and has

remained consistently high for the three years since re-implementation. Since enhanced data reporting began in

February 2007, over 104,500 voter registration applications have been submitted from North Carolina public assistance offices, an average of 2,986 applications per month. This is

compared to an average of only 484 registrations per month in the two years preceding the renewed implementation

effort.

Voting in 2010: Ten Swing States, a report by Demos and Common Cause (August 2010)

Voter Registration Activity at Public Assistance Agencies (2006 – 2010)

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Projection*

Series1 9001 33101 42672 33705 37071

2500

7500

12500

17500

22500

27500

32500

37500

42500

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ote

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Registration Trends

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* Projectio

ns

TotalRegistrati

ons

9001 33101 42672 33705 27803

Monthly Average

750 2758 3556 2809 3089

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Projection*0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000A

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FederalPL 103-31, National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 42 USC § 1973gg-5

StateAgency Voter Registration, GS 163-82.20 (effective January 1, 1995)

National Voter Registration Act

This act provided that all North Carolinians who apply for or receive services or benefits under certain programs or agencies must be offered the opportunity to register to vote or to update voter registration records. Among others, the act designated:

Public assistance agencies, Disability services agencies, andDMV.

When the North Carolina General Assembly enacted state legislation to coincide with NVRA, it added the Employment Security Commission.

• 100 County Boards

• District Election Technicians (DET)

• Public Assistance Agencies

• Disability Services Agencies

• ESC

• Executive Director

• Elections Liaison

SBOE NVRA Agencie

sCounty Boards

of Electio

ns

SBOE

Public Assistan

ceDSS

WIC

Disability

ServicesVocational

Rehabilitation

Division of Services for Blind

Division of Services for Deaf & Hard of

Hearing

Mental Health

Other

ESC

DMV

Libraries

High Schools

Affected DSS Units

Food and Nutrition Services

Medicaid

Energy Assistance

Emergency Assistance

Pregnancy Services

Work First Family Assistance

Any other unit offering public assistance

NVRA Agency Mandate

Voter registration services must be offered each time that a client appears in your office to:• apply for services,• for renewal or recertification of

services, or • to provide a change of address

Agency Site Coordinator

It is very important that each site designate a site coordinator.

The responsibilities are ESSENTIAL to daily voter registration activities.

Let the State Board and County Board of Elections

Maintain

Monitor

Ensure

Communicate

Train

Resolve

Site Coordinator’s Role: Maintain

Maintain adequate supplies, including: Properly coded Agency Voter Registration forms, Preference forms, Agency Transmittal sheet Training materials

Site Coordinator’s Responsibilities

Monitor the day to day administration of the program.

Ensure the timely and accurate transmittal of all voter registration materials (including preference forms) within 5 business days of completion.

Communicate with local and state election officials to ensure that materials are current.

Site Coordinator’s Responsibilities

Train new and reassigned employees in the voter registration process.

Resolve site questions and problems relating to the voter registration service.

Necessary Forms for Successful NVRA Compliance

Preference FormsVoter Registration FormsAgency Transmittal FormsPreference

Form

Preference Forms

All clients must fill one out upon new service, renewal of service, and change of address.

Only one preference form is required per visit -- if on the same visit the client completes several applications for service, only one preference form is required.

The preference form is required by both Federal (42 USC 1973gg-5) and State (GS 163-82.20) law.

Phone Contact Procedures

Agencies must offer VR services during phone contacts

Include VR form in mailed agency application packets. Mail the client a VR form if the client is giving the agency new information as to their address or name.

The agency should sign a preference form and indicate that a voter registration form was mailed to the applicant.

Handling Preference Forms

Transmit voter registration forms to the proper county board of elections within 5 days of receipt. Use transmittal form.

If there are no accompanying VR forms, transmit preference forms preferably weekly and no longer than monthly to the county elections office.

Use a transmittal form when sending any VR materials to the county elections office.

Preference Forms Exception

In lieu of transmitting preference forms to the county board of elections, agencies may keep the forms under the following conditions:

They must be stored as required by NC records retention regulation.

They must be made available to a county board of elections office to allow the research of voters who voted a provisional ballot and claimed to have registered at an NVRA agency.

The storage area must be open to elections officials to review as needed.

Preference Form Retention Schedule

Agency Voter Registration Form

Agencies must use the proper voter registration form based on agency type:

Requirements for Voter Registration

Anyone can apply to register to vote or change their voting address or party affiliation when they are conducting business with your agency, including application for services, recertification, or renewal. They must meet the following requirements:

Must be a United States citizen. Must be a resident of North Carolina. Must be 18 years old by the time of the next general election. Cannot be a convicted felon. Note that citizenship is automatically restored upon

completion of sentence, including probation & parole per N.C. law. Citizenship Concerns Only United States Citizens may register to vote. Proof of citizenship is not necessary. Do not assume that a person with an accent is not a U.S. citizen. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES allow a client that you know not to be a U.S. citizen

to register, even if they insist. It is a crime both for the person registering and those allowing it with the knowledge that the person is not a U.S. citizen. If you have difficulty with such persons, you can call the State Board of Elections and we will be happy to assist you.

Voter Registration Form

Current Version 072008

Required Fields on VR Form

Citizenship box and age box must be checked, if the applicant checks “no” to either he/she should go no further. This is important.

First and last name Date of Birth Driver’s License Number or, if the applicant does not have a driver’s license number, the

last four digits of the applicant’s social security number. If the applicant has neither a NCDL or SSN, still submit the form, the State Board of Elections will provide a unique ID to the voter.

Residence address Signature and date at the bottom of the form.

Address Matters!!! Where a voter lives determines a client’s voting districts ─ having a voter’s current

address and name is essential. Use the Voter Registration form as a change of information form.

Sloppy Forms Voting Rights are important. Forms need to be filled out in a way that is readable. If a voter registration form is filled out in a way that you have trouble reading or

understanding it, please encourage corrections or give the voter a new form to use. Make sure they sign the form.

Assistance to Clients

You are required to offer the same level of assistance to clients filling out voter registration forms as you would offer for your own agency forms.

Clients can take VR form home Clients who want to take the VR form home are welcome to do so. If a client

takes a VR form home, please advise the client that the VR form can be returned in any of three ways:

MAIL the completed form to the board of elections office in the county where he/she lives,

HAND DELIVER the form to the county board of elections office, or have a third party return the form either to the county board of elections or to the agency, or

RETURN the form to the agency office for transmittal to the county board of elections.

Note: A Preference Form must still be completed by the client or the agency intake staff.

Confidentiality

If a client registers in your office, the office name and location where the client registered is confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes. This is mandated both by Federal and State law.

Political Activity

When assisting a person to register to vote you may not display any political signs or slogans. You may not wear any political apparel or buttons.

You may not give advice or information about political parties or persons.

You may not attempt to influence the political party chosen by the applicant.

Be careful that the individual makes a voluntary attempt to register to vote. He/she should be assured that this decision will not affect the level of service offered at the agency.

Ordering VR Supplies

Use the North Carolina Voter Registration Materials Order Form

The form can be obtained from the State Board of Elections website www.NCSBE.gov You can submit the form:

By E-mail. Just complete online and hit the “Submit” button. By Fax to 919-715-0135

By Mail: ATTN: Request for Voter Registration Forms NC State Board of Elections P.O. Box 27255 Raleigh, NC 27611-7255 Other NVRA Forms & Materials Agency Transmittal Form Agency Manual Agency Posters Agency

TransmittalForm

SuppliesRequestForm

AgencyManual

State Board of Elections Contact

Online NVRA Agency information:

www.sboe.state.nc.us/agency/agency.htm

General Questions:919-733-7173866-522-4723

NVRA Coordinator: Veronica Degraffenreid (919) 715-1830Veronica.Degraffenreid@ncsbe.gov