D. Be Sure You Understand the Rules
Here are some questions you may wish to ask election officials:
• Is special training required? For all volunteers?
• Does a post office box or campus box count as an address, or must
the person list a street address or dormitory name with a number?
• If a person is homeless, what address should be listed?
• Are there voting restrictions for people who are ex-offenders?
• What arrangements should be made to secure registration applications during a multi-day drive and to deliver them following the drive?
• Must all registration applications be turned in at the end of the
drive, including those that remain blank or have been voided due
to mistakes?
• What does the county office do with multiple registrants from the
same address? For example, let’s say that several students from the
same group house register to vote. There are no variations in the
address except each individual’s name. Sometimes unrelated people with the same address raise suspicions of fraud. You want to
make sure no one is disqualified if the address is legitimate. (Raise
this question following the registration drive and only if the situation arises.)
E. Choose Your Target Audience, Venue, and Date
Is the audience your congregation, church, or campus? Or do you wish
to increase participation of a specific underrepresented group such as
low-income people or new citizens? If you plan to target a group beyond
your church or campus, consider partnering with other groups reaching
out to these communities, and choose a venue where people congregate.
This could be an ethnic grocery store, a community center, a public housing complex, or a popular restaurant. Get proper permission from these
groups or venues.
You cannot specifically choose as a target audience people who favor a particular candidate or political party. All people who request registration during
your drive must be offered an application if they meet the legal requirements.
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