E-Book Content
Register To Vote In Your State By Using This Postcard Form and Guide
For U.S. Citizens
General Instructions Who Can Use this Application If you are a U.S. citizen who lives or has an address within the United States, you can use the application in this booklet to: • Register to vote in your State, • Report a change of name to your voter registration office, • Report a change of address to your voter registration office, or • Register with a political party.
How to Submit Your Application Mail your application to the address listed under your State in the State Instructions. Or, deliver the application in person to your local voter registration office. The States that are required to accept the national form will accept copies of the application printed from the computer image on regular paper stock, signed by the applicant, and mailed in an envelope with the correct postage. First Time Voters Who Register by Mail If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, Federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes: • A current and valid photo identification or • A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address. Voters may be exempt from this requirement if they submit a COPY of this identification with their mail in voter registration form. If you wish to submit a COPY, please keep the following in mind: • Your state may have additional identification requirements which may mandate you show identification at the polling place even if you meet the Federal proof of identification. • Do not submit original documents with this application, only COPIES.
Exceptions Please do not use this application if you live outside the United States and its territories and have no home (legal) address in this country, or if you are in the military stationed away from home. Use the Federal Postcard Application available to you from military bases, American embassies, or consular offices. New Hampshire town and city clerks will accept this application only as a request for their own absentee voter mail‑in registration form. North Dakota does not have voter registration. Wyoming law does not permit mail registration. How to Find Out If You Are Eligible to Register to Vote in Your State Each State has its own laws about who may register and vote. Check the information under your State in the State Instructions. All States require that you be a United States citizen by birth or naturalization to register to vote in federal and State elections. Federal law makes it illegal to falsely claim U.S. citizenship to register to vote in any federal, State, or local election. You cannot be registered to vote in more than one place at a time.
If You Were Given this Application in a State Agency or Public Office If you have been given this application in a State agency or public office, it is your choice to use the application. If you decide to use this application to register to vote, you can fill it out and leave it with the State agency or public office. The application will be submitted for you. Or, you can take it with you to mail to the address listed under your State in the State Instructions. You also may take it with you to deliver in person to your local voter registration office. Note: The name and location of the State agency or public office where you received the application will remain confidential. It will not appear on your application. Also, if you decide not to use this application to register to vote, that decision will remain confidential. It will not affect the service you receive from the agency or office.
How to Fill Out this Application Use both the Application Instructions and State Instructions to guide you in