Voter Registration
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Voter Registration

Revised August 27, 2008

Purpose: This section describes a person’s right to register to vote and explains how we help people register.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION

  1. To meet rules set under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, we offer people help to register to vote.    

  2. People do not have to register to vote.   

  3. It does not impact a person’s eligibility or benefits if they:       

    1. Register to vote through us;

    2. Decide not to register; or

    3. Update their registration.

  4. Domestic Violence:

    Voter Registration information including the name and address of voters is normally considered public information.

    • If someone has been a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, they may be eligible for services from the Address Confidentiality Program through the Office of the Secretary of State.

    • Someone in the ACP can register to vote without having this record available to the public.

  5. Who can register to vote:

    1. To register to vote in the state of Washington, a person must be:

      1. A citizen of the United States;

      2. A legal resident of Washington State; and

      3. At least 18 years old by election day.

    2. A person can not register to vote if they are:

      1. Currently denied civil rights due to a felony conviction.

      2. Declared mentally incompetent by a Superior Court judge.


NOTE: If someone has a question about eligibility to vote, voter registration fraud, or discrimination in the process of registering, the Washington Secretary of State’s web site has information on these topics under Voter Registration Rights and Responsibilities.

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Give people a choice to register to vote:
  • At application,
  • eligibility review,
  • recertification or
  • change of address:

a. Use the Voter Registration Tool (VRT) in Barcode as a way to record Voter Registration offers and to replace the DSHS form 02-541 (Voter Registration Service).

b. Follow the prompts as the appear on the Voter Registration pop up screen. To access the Quick Guide to the VRT click on the following link:

http://iesa.dshs.wa.gov/itdcentral/products/barcode/resources/pdf/Voter_Reg_Tool_7.pdf

c. Read to the client their rights as they appear on the right since of the Voter Registration pop up screen under client information.

 d. Do not keep the VRT information in the physical record, Electronic Case Record (ECR), or document the person's choice about voter registration in ACES. You can document the case record only that you offered voter registration services.

e. Follow your local office procedures for storage and disposal of the DSHS 02-541 forms completed prior to the VRT implementation.

        2. Help with voter registration:

Help  someone to vote when they ask for it. This includes:

a. Helping the person to fill out the registration form as needed; and

b. Giving the person privacy when they ask for it to:

i.  Decide if they want to register to vote; or

ii. Fill out the voter registration form.

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Modification Date: August 27, 2008
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