1 / 15

Voter Registration in WIC

Learn about the importance of voter registration in WIC programs and how to assist clients in registering to vote. Understand the Motor Voter Law and its impact on public assistance offices like WIC. Stay informed and fulfill your role in promoting voter participation.

rconway
Download Presentation

Voter Registration in WIC

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Voter Registration in WIC Marlene Williams & Jaclyn Chamberlain

  2. Voter Registration in WIC • Why? • What is our role? • Distribution of Voter Materials • How to connect

  3. WHY?

  4. The Regulation • Have you ever heard the term “Motor Voter?” • What does that mean?

  5. “Motor Voter” Law Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)1 in 1993 to increase the number of citizens registered to vote in federal elections. It is often referred to as the “motor voter” law because it requires states to offer voter registration with driver’s license application and renewal.

  6. The Regulation “An equally important but less well-known provision of the NVRA is the requirement that states affirmatively offer voter registration opportunities to clients of public assistance programs. The provision of voter registration services at public assistance offices is governed by Section 7 of the NVRA.3.”

  7. What’s That Got to Do With WIC? Translation: WIC must follow “Motor Voter” too and help clients register to vote.

  8. Remember the Purpose Voting History in the US: • 1869: Congress passes the Fifteenth Amendment giving African American men the right to vote. • 1919: Congresses passes the Nineteenth Amendment and women given right to vote • 1965: Voting Rights Act signed, barring barriers to voting for racial and ethnic minorities Arizona: • AZ’s Voter Registration Rate is 77.45%

  9. So What’s Different for Us? • Yearly Training • Beginning Oct 2015 • Will be required to take it once it is available • Take it once per year (like Civil Rights) • New Forms • Beginning Oct 2015 • Slight new ways in offering • Mindful of how we offer the form • Appoint someone responsible for mailing the forms

  10. Being Mindful • The wording on the form is more consistent with expectations • Staff will ask if clients are registered, but then must offer the form to verify voting status/interest in registration • Must also offer assistance • If client indicates interest in registering • Must also offer assistance and privacy if requested

  11. Family Screen • During the completion/update of the Family Screen ask: • “Are you currently registered to vote?”

  12. Offer Voter Info Form • Use the form to allow the participant to mark their response • Present the voter info form • Let the participant know: • “I can assist you in filling this out.” • “Your voting status does not affect their eligibility for WIC or the benefits they receive.”

More Related