VOTER REGISTRATION GUIDE - When We All Vote

VOTER REGISTRATION ​GUIDE
When We All Vote is a new national, nonpartisan
not-for-profit that promises to bring together all willing
citizens, organizations and institutions across America to
spark a new conversation around the responsibilities we all
share in shaping the promise of our democracy. Namely, the
responsibility of registering and voting.
Through When We All Vote’s voter education efforts, volunteers will give people an
opportunity to register themselves to vote through a partnership with​ ​Rock the Vote​, and
ensure people don’t fall through the cracks in the voter registration process. Because
When We All Vote, we can change the world.

Ready to get started?
Using Rock the Vote’s voter registration platform directly on the WWAV website
(whenweallvote.org/register), you, and thousands of your fellow volunteers, can help
provide your friends and neighbors with the opportunity to register themselves to vote
and begin a conversation on the issues that matter to them and their community. Voting
is a foundational step in becoming more civically engaged. By helping our fellow citizens
access registration, we help unlock people’s ability to make change.

What is Rock the Vote?
WWAV has partnered with Rock the Vote, a national nonprofit focused on building the
long-term political power of young people, to brand its proven technology to simplify the
voter registration process. Using the WWAV branded tool, voters can begin the
registration process and, based on state election laws, either complete their registration
online or mail-in a completed form. WWAV will have access to all nonsensitive
registrant data to ensure voters made it onto the rolls and mobilize them to vote.

Let’s get started
We are asking YOU -- our volunteers -- to host or co-host a voter registration event, in
high foot-traffic public areas, to provide folks in your community access to WWAV’s
online tool so they can register themselves to vote. Host events can include tabling;
walking around in a high foot-traffic area, such as a farmer’s market, street fair, or a
busy park; or partnering with local place of worship, or school.

Please note: You may need a permit or permission for these locations, so check
with the appropriate school administrator, local government, or property owner.

Goals
You should have the following goals in mind:
  ● Provide the WWAV online tool to people so they can register themselves to vote
      or update their registration status.
  ● Have conversations with people about the issues you or they care about as a
      way to continue building relationships in your community.

Lock in logistics

      Will you have WiFi? ​WWAV’s voter registration tool requires an internet
      connection. It is mobile-friendly, so you can use cellphones, but having a few
      devices -- ideally tablets -- connected to the internet with the WWAV tool
      bookmarked (whenweallvote.org/register) is ideal.

      Where will you have your voter registration event? ​As suggested above, high
      foot-traffic areas will be ideal for this day. Take weather into account! If you’re
      registering voters in a state like Nevada, it’s better to stay out of the heat. Think
      about who you know - maybe you have friends who are teachers who can help
      set up a voter registration drive in a local high school, or a good friend that
      attends a different church than you do.​ ​Remember, this is just the
      beginning—there will be many more opportunities to provide people with a way to
      register themselves to vote, but it’s important to get out there, start using
      WWAV’s registration tool, and meet some new people!

What time will you host your event? ​The best time for your event will likely
      depend on the location that you decide to have it. Be sure to give yourself
      enough time to set up a table (if needed). Don’t forget, some locations may
      require a permit.

      Who will make up your team?​ Organizers work best in teams. Think about
      people who can help you with your voter registration event. For example, if you
      are going to be in a location for a few hours, schedule a few shifts and follow up
      with your fellow volunteers. Is there someone you can ask to be in charge of
      snacks and water or to bring tables and chairs (if needed)?

Be prepared
   ● Give explicit instructions and guidance to your fellow volunteers
   ● Make sure everyone is well versed in voter registration dos and don’ts and is
      clear on key points
   ● Bookmark whenweallvote.org/register for quick access on your phone, tablet, or
      laptop

Don’t forget!

   ● Make sure all phones, tablets, and computers are charged and ready to go
   ● Bring back-up batteries or determine if you’ll have access to an outlet at your
     location
   ● Will you need a table and chairs? Have sign-in sheets and pens for folks who
     would like to get involved and volunteer at future events
   ● Bring your gear! Don’t have any? ​Shop the store now and get the WWAV
     organizer pack! store.whenweallvote.org
            ○ Pro-tip: consider asking everyone on your team to wear the same color
            shirt on the day of your activity so that you can easily keep track of one
            another
   ● Snacks for your group! It’s always great to have water bottles and some granola
     bars on hand to keep volunteers in high spirits
   ● If you have a permit, be sure to bring it with you in case you need it

Best Practices
Expectations
It’s normal to only engage with 1-2 unregistered voters per hour in a high-traffic area.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have dozens of people approaching you to register to
vote. If someone refuses to participate, be kind and thank them for their time. Treat
people as you would want to be treated. Smile, stay positive, and just speak like a
regular person—get comfortable with the script below, so it comes naturally. And finally,
don’t take anything personally. If someone is rude, just move on—the next person is
likely to make your day!

Have a conversation
Registering to vote can be an intimidating process to some, so be sure to have a
genuine conversation with potential participants. Ask questions and listen actively to
their answers. Tailor what you say to the individual. Find your own pitch. Experiment
and figure out what works best for you. Connect voting to their own daily lives and the
issues they say they care about.

Stay on message
You’re not telling them who to vote for, which political party to support, or suggesting
that they vote for or against particular policy issues. You are just providing them with the
access to register themselves to vote! Helping people gain access to participate in our
democracy is a positive way to celebrate civic engagement and build long-lasting
relationships within your community.

Follow up and be persistent
If you see folks again later on, make the ask: “Hey, were you able to get registered to
vote?”
        ● “I’m already registered” is a common response. Ask follow up questions -
        many people need to be taken through this thought process:
           ○ “Are you registered at your current address?”
           ○ “Have you moved since you last registered?”
           ○ “Have you changed your name since you last registered?”

Ask everyone to register

Be sure to include everyone when recruiting participants to register themselves to vote.
Don’t be afraid to have a respectful and engaging conversation.

Ask everyone if they would like more info about WWAV
When We All Vote is dedicated to fulfilling a key promise of our democracy: ensuring
that every eligible American is not only empowered to vote—but feels the importance of
doing so. At When We All Vote, we believe that our democracy is strengthened when
people from various walks of life embrace this important duty and make their voices
heard by regularly participating in the electoral process. If people are already registered
to vote, but share your passion for this project, ask them to join you in volunteering.
Take their information down and follow up!

Questions?
If you have questions about the rules in your state, there are several sites with detailed
information to help you navigate your state’s specific laws:
       ● Rock the Vote has a​ ​comprehensive list of state requirements​ to register and
       to vote
       ● ​Fair Elections Center​ has state-specific guides covering a variety of topics
       ● The​ ​National Voter Registration Day website​ also has a state-by-state guide
       ● If you are ever in doubt, be sure to visit your Secretary of State’s (SOS)
       website. There are links to each state’s SOS website at the bottom of this
       document

If you experience problems with WWAV’s registration tool or have feedback or best
practices you would like to share, please email us at ​info@whenweallvote.org​ and we’ll
be in touch with you.

If you or a voter has a legal question about your state’s voter registration laws, including
eligibility, please visit the websites listed above or direct the voter to these resources.
WWAV is not able to provide legal counsel or answer questions about voter registration
eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

While you may be asked these voter registration questions by potential voters, don’t try
to answer the following questions yourself—send people to your state’s Secretary of
State’s website or to one the resources listed below.

When is the last day to register to vote?
Voter registration deadlines vary by state. You can check out the resources from these
partner organizations:​ ​Rock the Vote​ offers a comprehensive list of election dates and
deadlines for each state. ​Fair Elections Center​ and ​National Voter Registration Day​ also
have a host of resources. For comprehensive information on your state, check with your
Secretary of State’s website listed at the bottom of this toolkit.

Do I need to be 18 in order to register to vote?
The voter registration age requirement varies by state. Please check with your
Secretary of State’s website or visit these partner organizations:​ ​Rock the Vote​, ​Fair
Elections Center​ and ​National Voter Registration Day​.

I am a student. Can I register to vote at my school address?
YES! You have the right to register to vote at your school address – this includes a
dorm room. Any student living in a dorm is entitled to the same rights as any other
student. To imply otherwise is illegal. If you receive mail in a Post Office box you can
sign an affidavit (or, in some cases, get a letter from your college’s Residential Life
office) asserting that you live at your dorm address.

What if my state doesn’t have online voter registration?
If your state does not offer online voter registration, we will walk you through the
process of completing a voter registration form and email you a copy, along with the
mailing address for your local election official. See the list of states that don’t offer
online registration in the Resources section below.

I was previously convicted of a felony. Can I register to vote?
Voting rights for those convicted of a felony vary from state to state. Check out the
Brennan Center for Justice​ to get state-specific information.

How do I know if my registration was accepted?

You may receive a registration card in the mail from your local election officials, but not
necessarily and not necessarily immediately. In most states, you can also check your
registration status online at your state’s statewide voter registration portal.

For more answers to your voting questions, checkout​ ​Rock the Vote's Frequently Asked
Voting Questions​.

Resources

Rock the Vote:​ ​Everything you need to get registered and get prepared to vote in your
state
Fair Elections Center:​ Guides that summarize important registration and voting
information for each state
National Voter Registration Day:​ ​Voter registration drive rules by state
US Vote Foundation:​ ​Voter registration deadlines by state
US Vote Foundation:​ ​Voting requirements and information by state
Nonprofit Vote:​ ​Find your state and local election clerk offices and contact information

List of states that do not offer online voter registration:
Arkansas
Maine
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
North Dakota (no registration is required)
Oklahoma
Puerto Rico
South Dakota
Texas
Wisconsin

Wyoming

For more information about registering to vote, visit your Secretary of
State’s website:

Alabama​ ·​ ​Alaska​ ·​ ​Arizona​ ·​ ​Arkansas​ ·​ ​California​ ·​ ​Colorado​ ·​ ​Connecticut​ ·​ ​Delaware​ ·
Florida​ ·​ ​Georgia​ ·​ ​Guam​ ·​ ​Hawaii​ ·​ ​Idaho​ ·​ ​Illinois​ ·​ ​Indiana​ ·​ ​Iowa​ ·​ ​Kansas​ ·​ ​Kentucky​ ·
Louisiana​ ·​ ​Maine​ ·​ ​Maryland​ ·​ ​Massachusetts​ ·​ ​Michigan​ ·​ ​Minnesota​ ·​ ​Mississippi​ ·
Missouri​ ·​ ​Montana​ ·​ ​Nebraska​ ·​ ​Nevada​ ·​ ​New Hampshire​ ·​ ​New Jersey​ ·​ ​New Mexico​ ·
New York​ ·​ ​North Carolina​ ·​ ​North Dakota​ ·​ ​Ohio​ ·​ ​Oklahoma​ ·​ ​Oregon​ ·​ ​Pennsylvania​ ·
Puerto Rico​ ·​ ​Rhode Island​ ·​ ​South Carolina​ ·​ ​South Dakota​ ·​ ​Tennessee​ ·​ ​Texas​ ·​ ​Utah
·​ ​Vermont​ ·​ ​Virgin Islands​ ·​ ​Virginia​ ·​ ​Washington​ ·​ ​West Virginia​ ·​ ​Wisconsin​ ·​ ​Wyoming

Sample script
You can adopt this script as you approach someone to ask them if they have registered
to vote.

Hi there! How are you doing today? My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am volunteering
with When We All Vote. We are here to talk to you about the issues you care about and
help people get registered to vote.

Are you currently registered to vote?
      - ​If yes:​ That’s great! Have you moved or changed your name since the last time
      you voted?

         - ​If they haven’t moved or changed names: ​[Use this opportunity to start a
         conversation] That’s great! What’s the issue you care about most? [​Remember:
         Our goal is to engage and listen, not persuade him or her to support a particular
         candidate or policy platform.​ ]

         - ​If they have moved or changed names:​ OK, then make sure to update your
         voter registration. It only takes a minute. Do you have a smartphone or tablet?

         - ​If they have their own phone/tablet:​ Great, just type in
         whenweallvote.org/register on your phone and fill out the fields.

- ​If they do not have their own phone or tablet and you are comfortable
      sharing your phone/tablet/computer:​ OK, you can update your registration at
      the link whenweallvote.org/register. You can use my phone/tablet/computer to fill
      out the form and submit all of the information.

      - [NOTE: As the volunteer, you cannot fill out any portion of the form or hit the
      submit button for the participant.]

      - ​If they are not registered to vote: ​OK, you can register yourself to vote at the
      link whenweallvote.org/register. You can use my phone/tablet/computer to fill out
      the form. Or if you have your own, you can register yourself now at
      whenweallvote.org/register on your own device.

      - [NOTE: As the volunteer, you cannot fill out any portion of the form or hit the
      submit button for the participant.]

      - ​If they aren’t sure if they’re registered:​ “Let’s check!” [Use
      whenweallvote.org/register and ask them to type in their information. Depending
      on whether your state has online registration or not will determine the choices
      they will be given.

Closing​: Alright, you should be all set—thanks! Just remember to verify your
registration status within the next few weeks to make sure that you are on the voter
rolls. Oh, and if you’re interested in getting more involved in upcoming When We All
Vote events, you can sign up with me now or at whenweallvote.org/events.