FACTS ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION

The right to vote means nothing if citizens are not registered. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) makes voter registration more convenient and accessible. Under NVRA, voters cannot be purged or removed from rolls simply because they were not inspired, or were unable, to vote in previous elections. If you want to affect policy and make your voice heard, you must register and vote.

A. WHAT IS VOTER REGISTRATION?

Voter registration is a prerequisite to voting. It is the process of having one’s name placed on the list of those eligible to vote in an election by filing out the proper application.

B. WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION?

To register to vote, one must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of the state and country in which he/she seeks to vote.
2. Be at least 17 1/2 years of age (at least 18 years to vote).
3. Not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony.
4. Not be judicially declared mentally incompetent.

C. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF VOTER REGISTRATION?

1. MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Frequently referred to as “Motor Voter”, “Motor Voter” registration allows citizens to register to vote as they apply for their driver’s license. Between 1995 and November 1996, twenty million citizens utilized “Motor Voter” to register to vote.

2. AGENCY-BASED REGISTRATION

The NVRA allows U.S. citizens to register to vote at public assistance agencies (AFCD, Food Stamps, WIC, Social Security, and Vocation Rehabilitation). This is significant, when one considers the fact that less than 40% of low income and unemployed Americans were registered to vote in 1992.

3. MAIL-IN REGISTRATION

One in every five Americans changes their address every year, making the opportunity to register by mail very important to U.S. citizens. Mail-in registration is also the best tool to register voters, whether you are conducting door-to-door canvasses or on-site registration. You can register people at shopping malls, churches, schools, and ballgames - wherever there are groups of people. You should collect completed forms and mail them to your local register’s office. Your voter registration office information would be located in your local telephone book under “County Government”.

D. WHERE CAN YOU OBTAIN FORMS?

Voter Registration forms can be obtained from your county Voter Registration office. Contact the Secretary of States’ office if you need large quantities for mass registrations. The Secretary of States’ office can be located in your local telephone book under “State Government”.

E. WHERE CAN ONE REGISTER?

Usually, one can register at banks, libraries, schools, and other places frequented by the public assistance and government office.

VOTERS BILL OF RIGHTS

• The right to vote without intimidation or persecution.
• The right to use as much time as needed in completing ballots.
• The right to redo ballots if mistakes are made.
• The right to get help if there are language difficulties or challenges resulting from disability.
• The right to request and receive a challenge/provisional ballot should they be denied the right to vote.
• The right to cast a ballot if they are in line before polls close in their precinct/ward.
• The right to have a polling place or process accessible for the physically challenged.

In order to TO PROTECT OUR VOTERS, MAS FREEDOM desires to:

• Make certain there is a visible public education campaign to register voters and explain the voting process.
• Ensure voters are notified of polling place changes.
• Make sure a complete voter file of active and inactive voters is available on site for each precinct.
• Make certain your community has access to early voting and absentee ballots.
• Ensure bilingual voting instructions are available to all voters.
• Make sure that staff and volunteer recruitment is sufficient to adequately deal with the size and traffic of the precinct.
• Ensure that staff and volunteer training is sufficient to identify potential irregularities with materials and ballots, and overcome language barriers.
• Help organize a Muslim prison branch to register incarcerated individuals who may be able to vote, and begin re-enfranchising individuals who will be able to vote after their sentence is served.