Author: Veronica Degraffenreid & Maria Elena Williams
Governor Perdue has proclaimed September 2011 as “Citizens Voter Registration Awareness Month” in North Carolina. The goal of this proclamation is to provide North Carolina citizens with every opportunity to register to vote. Participation in this statewide effort, conducted by the county boards of elections, is mandated by G.S. § 163-82.25:
§ 163-82.25. Mandated voter registration drive:
The Governor shall proclaim as Citizens Awareness Month the month designated by the State Board of Elections annually. During that month, the State Board of Elections shall initiate a statewide voter registration drive and shall adopt rules under which county boards of elections shall conduct the drives. Each county board of elections shall participate in the statewide voter registration drives and conduct voter registration and preregistration drives at public high schools in accordance with local board of education policies, school system administrative procedures, and guidelines of the State Board of Elections.
This will be the second year that county boards of elections will be required to conduct voter registration and preregistration drives at public high schools in your county. You will need to work with your local school district to arrange these events.
Importantly, the N.C. Association of School Boards has already adopted policy 3640/5130 which says, in part: “the board directs the superintendent or designee to establish any necessary procedures and to cooperate with the local board of elections in conducting voter registration and preregistration drives as part of Citizen Awareness Month as required by G.S. 163-82.25.” However, your county school board may not be aware of this policy, and you will need to initiate contact with them to fulfill the mandate of G.S. 163-82.25.
County board may also conduct voter registration drives at venues other than high schools as well. Remember, when conducting these additional drives, the main goal is not only to register new voters, but also to ensure that voters’ information is current (names, addresses, etc.), as well as to inform voters on how they can vote absentee (mail-in and one-stop), what to expect on election day, voter accessibility, etc. The guidelines for organizing voter registration events during Citizens Voter Registration Awareness Month are as follows:
Guidelines
- Dates: Anytime in September 2011.
- Time & Duration: Mornings, afternoons or early evenings. Events should last at least 1 hour.
- Location(s): Voter registration drives must be conducted at the public high schools in your county. County boards may also hold events at other venues.
- Staffing: County boards may partner with other groups in order to staff these voter registration drives. Examples include high school civics and social studies teachers; Parent/Teacher Associations (PTA); League of Women Voters; Chambers of Commerce; civic groups; or individual citizens.
- Training: County boards must ensure that voter registration drive organizers and workers are properly trained on voter registration law and policy.
- Resources: Please order 08 voter registration forms for high school drives. You will need to use 07 voter registration forms for all other voter registration drives. Please make sure to also have the Spanish language forms (09) available as well.
Any event at all, large or small, will be considered a success and should be publicized as much as funds will allow. Many media sources may publicize for free. After your drive(s), please send in news clippings of coverage or a summary of coverage for any coverage prior to and after the drive(s). I am attaching a form for you to record the drive(s) in your county. Please return the form via mail or email, along with any relevant information no later than Oct. 31, 2011.
[Download the PDF below for the registration drive form attachment.]
↓ Citizens Voter Registration Awareness Month: Numbered Memo 2011-04 (PDF)