Question for DUers ---- Can anyone register new voters?

[rhombus]

Is there some legal requirement to register new voters on your own or to get voter registration forms?

If anyone can register voters, then the DNC and the Obama campaign should have a tab on their websites for supporters to register voters. It just makes sense.

600,000 African Americans in Georgia are not registered to vote. Drives me crazy. Why not outsource the process to Obama supporters to register new voters on their own?



Update-
Thanks a lot for your insightful answers.

[Labors of Hercules]

1. Anyone can register voters in NC, and I'm sure it's the same in GA.

Since they are mail-in forms, all you have to do is give them a form and make sure they fill it out completely. Then drop it in the mail.

Done.

[rhombus]

4. So basically anyone can register?

And how about requesting voter registration forms? Or can they just be printed out and distributed?

[blondeatlast]

2. In most states yes. Inquire through your Secretary of State's office.

You can also get free registration forms through them if you are able to register voters.

[Raven]

3. In New Hampshire you have to go to your Town Hall to register.

And you can register at the polls on election day but you can't register by remote. I have worked on getting people to register in past elections and that usually involved giving them directions on where to go and telling them what proof of residency they needed.

[elleng]

5. Individuals register themselves;

supporters may encourage people to register, and help them obtain the document, etc.

[Barack_America]

6. The best thing to do is to go to your Board of Elections office...

You can verify with them and pick up forms in the process!

However, I would recommend that you try to link up with the campaign for some of their registration drives, or at least find a way to let the forms go through them on their way to the elections board. The campaign safeguards to make sure that those forms go through properly and that none are illegally thrown out, the party registration switched, etc.

Thanks for wanting to do this!

:hi:

[roseBudd]

14. Even though I do it on my own I turn my forms in to either the campaign or one of the groups...

because they enter the data and then do follow up.

Otherwise I drop off at BoE

[polichick]

7. Obama supporters ARE registering voters on their own...

As well as working with their "Obama teams" to register voters ~ just get a stack of forms (from the court house in PA) and GO! (And don't forget to take along absentee ballot forms for students!)

[Yael]

8. Here in PA, we just pick up a stack of registration forms and hit the streets

People fill 'em out, give 'em back to us and we take them to the office and submit them.

[Emit]

9. Obama's Vote for Change Voter Registration and Mobilization Drive

We can change Washington if more Americans get involved, get registered and show up to vote on November 4th. Vote for Change is an unprecedented 50-state voter registration and mobilization drive. To kick off the event, the campaign held more than 100 events across the country on May 10th. Obama volunteers will register new voters as the start of a six-month voter registration drive.

We can send a powerful message to the special interests that dominate the old politics if millions of people get registered to vote. Recent voter registration drives have registered more than 200,000 new Democrats in Pennsylvania, more than 165,000 new Democrats in North Carolina, and more than 150,000 new Democrats in Indiana. Those numbers just scratch the surface of what's possible.

Many states place certain restrictions on voter registration drives. Before you begin any Voter Registration, please read your state’s legal guidelines. Following local guidelines ensures we empower the greatest number of people possible in our Vote For Change effort.

Democrat living abroad? Register to vote from where ever you are.

Absentee Voting Assistence for Military & Citizens Abroad - Click here for more information

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vfchome

[Lisa0825]

10. I am a deputy voter registrar.

In Texas, you have to be deputized in order to be able to collect the completed form and turn it in for the individual. In this way, you make sure they do get registered, rather than losing the form, forgetting about it, etc. However, anyone can pass out forms to people so they can mail them in themselves.

[MagickMuffin]

12. Hey Lisa, I'm thinking about becoming a "deputy registrar"

It is a big responsibility. You HAVE to turn in the forms within 5 days of signing someone up to the Elections Office in your county, if you don't turn in the forms within the five days you could face criminal charges.:hide:

However, the BIGGER bonus is the new voter is registered that very day and can vote. :woohoo:

Have you been signing people up yet, and how's it going?.?.?:hi:

[Lisa0825]

17. Yes, I am aware of the responsibility.

I did this 4 years ago too. We have other locations around the county where people can drop off the forms, in addition to the office at the County Courthouse. I either did not know that 4 years ago, or that may be a new option. Anyway, if dropping them off at the office is difficult due to location, you may want to ask if that is an option in your area too.

There has been a lot of disinformation here due to our Republican Tax Assessor-Collector. For instance,we were told 4 years ago that you could not be campaigning in any way while registering voters. However, our club checked with the SOS office and confirmed that you actually CAN, but you cannot refuse to register anyone. So if you want to register people during campaign events or while wearing a campaign t-shirt, or whatever, that is OK. We were told back then that THAT was a criminal offense!

I have not registered anyone yet. I just got deputized last week, but I will be participating in several events on the calendar for the end of June and through July.

[murielm99]

11. In Illinois you have to be a deputy registrar

in order to register people. But it is a very easy process to complete. One goes to the county clerk, learns the requirements, takes an oath, and picks up the forms.

It is not hard to register here. City halls, libraries and drivers license facilities all have registrars. All precinct committeemen are deputy registrars.

[Lisa0825]

18. Yep, that is how it works in Texas too.

And in addition to going to the County Clerk office, often they will attend club meetings if a large group of people want to get deputized at once.

[roseBudd]

13. I do it on my lunch hour Mon-Fri, it's easy if you work where there is a lot of foot traffic...

bus stops are especially good

[AllentownJake]

15. We need to nationalize voting laws

This nonsense where each state has their own crazy system and requirements needs to go.

[ecstatic]

16. Good question. I would certainly carry around a stack of

registration papers with me if that's the case.

[MonkeyFunk]

19. as with just about anything pertaining to elections

it depends on the state. Check with your county election office.