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NVRA/SB 35

NVRA/SB 35. Implementation Training 2013. Why NVRA/SB 35? National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and SB 35. Goals: Enhance voting opportunities for every American; Remove the vestiges of discrimination; Increase voter registration in underserved communities. Who Must Comply?.

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NVRA/SB 35

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  1. NVRA/SB 35 Implementation Training 2013

  2. Why NVRA/SB 35?National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and SB 35 Goals: • Enhance voting opportunities for every American; • Remove the vestiges of discrimination; • Increase voter registration in underserved communities.

  3. Who Must Comply? • Department of Motor Vehicles • Public Assistance Agencies, i.e., offices that offer enrollment in: • CalFresh • CalWorks • Medi-Cal • WIC nutrition program • In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

  4. Offices that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to people with disabilities: • Department of Rehabilitation • Independent Living Centers • Dept. of Developmental Services Regional Centers • Contractors with DSS Office of Deaf Access • State and County Mental Health Providers • Board of Equalization • Franchise Tax Board • Military recruitment offices

  5. NVRA Requirements The NVRA requires agencies to offer voter registration services each time a person requests: • New services or benefits; or • Renewal or recertification; or • A change of name or address.

  6. NVRA Requirements “Voter registration services” means: • Distribute a voter registration card (VRC); • Distribute an NVRA voter preference form (preference form); • Assist with filling out the VRC; • Accept and transmit completed VRCs to election officials; and • Accept and retain completed preference forms on file for two years.

  7. SB 35 SB 35 codifies NVRA in state law, and also requires agencies to: • Notify county elections office of each office or site within the county; • Designate an NVRA/SB 35 coordinator; • Offer minority language forms as required by federal Voting Rights Act.

  8. Voter Registration Card

  9. Where Can I Get a Stack of VRCs? • QIPC • Tracking • County election officials require that we record the serial number range provided to each agency site. 3. County election officials will: • Track completed VRCs as they are returned; • Attribute each VRC received to the proper NVRA agency site.

  10. NVRA Voter Preference Form The program must keep the voter preference forms in their files for 2 years. DO NOT mail them to the SOS or the county elections office.

  11. Voter Preference Form Completion • Ask each new client “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?” • In the case of minors, the accompanying adult will be offered the voter services. • Hand them the voter preference form asking them to read it and indicate their name and answer on the form.

  12. Voter Preference form Completion • If the client answers “already registered” or “no”, place the completed form in the designated box and no further action is required. • If they answer “yes”, place the completed form in the designated box and give the client a Voter Registration card to complete. • If they refuse to answer or complete form, take a blank form, write the client’s name and “no preference” on it, then place in the designated box.

  13. Voter Preference Form Retention • Each clinic will maintain a designated box to place the forms in upon completion. • The designated clinic rep will file them in a designated notebook or cabinet . • They shall be kept in chronological order by month for a period of two years.

  14. Voter Registration Services • Include preference form and VRC in all packets. • Offer assistance with completing the VRC.

  15. Special Issues with Voter Registration Services • Mobility • Literacy/Plain Language • In-home Assistance • Minors

  16. Special Issues with Voter Registration Services • Conservatorship • Signature Stamp • Neutrality • Confidentiality

  17. Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Requirements • SSN or DL • Federal law requires people registering to vote to fill in either their California DMV Driver License or Identification number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. • Alternative: county elections assigns a unique ID • If an applicant does not have either of these, they will still be registered to vote and will be given a unique identifying number by their county elections official.

  18. Voter Registration Eligibility Requirements • Qualifications: You may register to vote in California if: 1. You are a United States Citizen. 2. You are a resident of California. 3. You are at least 18 years of age (or will be by the date of the next election). 4. You are not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction. (the law changed in 2012) 5. You have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent.

  19. Completing the Voter Registration Card Personal Information: Name: Legal name required Home Address: This must be the address of residence. - Include apartment number or space number. - No business addresses or P.O. Boxes. - If homeless, the consumer must provide a physical location. Mailing Address: Must be provided only if different than residence address. Date of Birth U.S State or Foreign Country of Birth

  20. Completing the Voter Registration Card Political Party Preference: Check one (1) only: Optional* If the client does not want to choose a political party preference, they are not required to do so. They can mark “No Party Preference. No, I do not want to choose a political party preference.” *By choosing no party preference, a voter may not be able to vote for some parties’ candidates at a primary election for U.S. President or party committee.

  21. Completing the Voter Registration Card Previously Registered: If previously registered and changing personal information, complete this section in addition to the personal information section.

  22. Completing the Voter Registration Card Sign and Date the Form: • Unsigned forms will be rejected by the county elections office. • If a person is unable to sign: - Make a mark; a witness 18 or over must write the voter’s name next to the mark. - Use of a signature stamp is not permitted for persons registered by BHS. If the consumer wants to use a signature stamp, refer them to the Registrar of Voters office. • A power of attorney CANNOT be used for voter registration

  23. Deadlines The completed VRCs should be put in the spot designated by the Service Chief. At the end of each day the forms will be PONY’d to the Registrar of Voters by the person(s) designated to do so by the Service Chief. There is no PONY “number”…just address the PONY envelope to Registrar of Voters

  24. Processing Completed VR Cards Program staff should: • Review each card to ensure it is complete and legible; • Give the customer the VRC receipt.

  25. Processing Completed VR Cards Review: • Elector has answered Yes or No to the following questions: • Are you a U.S. citizen? • Will you be 18 or older by the next election? • Name and address of elector • Date of Birth • U.S. state or foreign country of birth • Elector completed Driver License/Identification or Social Security number • Elector signed the registration card If the agency assists the consumer with completing or returning the VRC, the agency must sign and date the VRC in the space provided.

  26. Processing Completed VR Cards Eligibility Questions • Forward all completed VRCs to the county elections office. • Do NOT destroy any completed cards; • Do NOT mark completed VRCs (no “flagging”) Equal Assistance • Each person must be provided the same degree of assistance as is provided to complete agency forms, unless the person refuses such assistance.

  27. Processing Completed VR Cards Date stamping VRCs: • Date stamp completed VRCs the same day. • Stamp (or write) the date on the card below the postage area on the address side of the card. • This is done because VRCs submitted to an agency on the last day to register (15th day before and election)are timely under the NVRA, even if the elections office doesn’t receive the VRCs until after the deadline.

  28. Voter Registration Verification How does a consumer know if their registration was accepted? Voter Notification Card (VNC) • Mailed by the county elections office. • Should be received within approximately 30 days of submitting voter registration card. - If the client does not receive a VNC in the mail, the client should contact their county elections office. - Many county elections offices have a website where voters can check their voter registration status.

  29. Neutrality An employee who provides persons with an opportunity to register to vote shall not: • Seek to influence an applicant’s political preference or party registration. • Display any political preference or party allegiance. • Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to discourage the applicant from registering to vote; or, • Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits.

  30. Non-Compliance Consequences Agencies that fail to comply with NVRA face the following: • Lawsuits from the United States Department of Justice. • Lawsuits from people who did not receive the opportunity to vote as required by the NVRA. • Lawsuits from nonprofit voting rights organizations.

  31. Voting Registration Supplies • Clinics will only obtain voter registration cards from QIPC. This will ensure proper tracking and reporting of completed registrations and help attribute registrations to the correct site. • Voter preference forms may be downloaded from the Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.ca.gov.electiosn/nvra/declination-forms.htm.

  32. Tips for Service Chiefs • Know who the designated representative for your clinic is….. • Know where the supply of VRCs and voter preference forms are kept. • Ensure that a supply of both forms in all 5 required languages is on hand. • Know which staff member will be responsible to file the voter preference forms. • Ensure that the voter preference forms are kept in chronological order and retained for two years. • Know which staff member is designated to mail or pony the applications daily.

  33. Tips for Service Chiefs • Designate a location for staff to put voter registration cards and preference forms. • Know where the NVRA resource binder supplied by QIPC is kept! • Questions? Contact Joe Churchin or Dr. Horner 834-5601

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