National Voter Registration Act

_{To begin, in [Section 7(a)(2)(A)] it explains that states must give
people the opportunity to register to vote in elections for federal office or change their registration address when applying
for or receiving services or assistance at any office in the state that provides public assistance or at or through
any office in the state that provides state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities.

NVRA recognizes that frequently people with disabilities do not go into the service agencies to apply for service
and, as that is the case, it is perfectly acceptable under the law to
assist someone with filling out a voter registration form in there home.[Section 7(a)(4)(B)]}

_{In
addition, a state may, at its discretion, offer voter registration at offices providing services to persons with disabilities
that are not within the mandatory category described above.}

_{General
requirements and prohibitions applicable to agency registration.NVRA
includes a number of specific requirements and prohibitions applicable to agency- based registrations.}

_{NVRA stipulates[Section 7(a)(6)(A)] that people must be
provided the opportunity to register to vote at the time of their original application for services or assistance and when
filing any recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such services or assistance.}_{A Declination form
stating they rejecting the offer of assistance to register to vote and must do so in writing or by not checking a box
on a form that contains wording specified in the Act.}_{If an individual does register to vote, the particular
agency at which the applicant submits a voter registration application may not be publicly disclosed. [Section 8(a)(6) and
8(I)(1)]}

_{NVRA clearly outlines some of the language
that must ne in the declination form. [Section 7(a)(6)(B)] NVRA specifies that "no information relating to
a declination to register to vote in connection with an application made at an agency office...may be used for any purpose
other than voter registration." [Section 7(a)(7)]}

_{NVRA specifically requires
the following components of the declination:}

_{"If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?"}
_{if the
agency provides public assistance, "Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount
of assistance that you will be provided by this agency."}
_{"IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT
THIS TIME" (with yes and no boxes provided).}
_{"If you would like help filling out the voter registration application form,
we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private."}
_{"If
you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy
in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other
p preference, you may file a complaint with______.. (the blank being the name, address, and phone number of the appropriate
officials to whom such a complaint should be addressed)."}

_{For more information on implementing NVRA at your agency, please visit Project Vote!}

_{Most
of us already know all the details of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and what is requires of agencies serving
people with disabilities. At the DVC we had two thoughts that made this information "Home page" worthy; the
first is there are always newcomers that need to learn this valuable information and two, a little refresher never hurt anyone.

To begin, in [Section 7(a)(2)(A)] it explains
that states must give people the opportunity to register to vote in elections for federal office or change their registration
address when applying for or receiving services or assistance at any office in the state that provides public assistance
or at or through any office in the state that provides state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons
with disabilities.
NVRA recognizes that frequently people with disabilities do not go into the service agencies
to apply for service and, as that is the case,}_{it is perfectly acceptable under the law to assist someone
with filling out a voter registration form in there home.}_{[Section 7(a)(4)(B)]}

_{In
addition, a state may, at its discretion, offer voter registration at offices providing services to persons with disabilities
that are not within the mandatory category described above.}

_{General
requirements and prohibitions applicable to agency registration.NVRA
includes a number of specific requirements and prohibitions applicable to agency- based registrations.}

_{NVRA specifically requires
the following components of the declination:}

_{"If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?"}
_{if the
agency provides public assistance, "Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount
of assistance that you will be provided by this agency."}
_{"IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT
THIS TIME" (with yes and no boxes provided).}
_{"If you would like help filling out the voter registration application form,
we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private."}
_{"If
you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy
in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other
p preference, you may file a complaint with______.. (the blank being the name, address, and phone number of the appropriate
officials to whom such a complaint should be addressed)."}

_{For more information on implementing NVRA at your agency, please visit Project Vote!}