Voter Registration:
How To, FAQs, and Tips
HOW TO REGISTER
SOMEONE TO VOTE
Who Can Register to Vote?
You must be:
• A US citizen
• At least 18 years old by General Election
• Not currently serving a felony sentence
Who Can Register Others?
Anyone!
• No special certification required
• You don’t have to be eligible to vote
yourself
Your Obligation as Registrar
• You cannot coerce someone into
registering for any particular party
• You can complete the form for the voter,
but they must sign it themselves
• If you accept a completed form, you must
turn it into the county Board of Elections
before the deadline
Registration Deadlines
• Mail or turn in completed forms to your
county Board of Elections within 7 days
• To vote in an election, you must register
25 days before
– This rule is firm; there is no more Same Day
Registration during Early Voting
– If you move within the county, you can update
your registration address when you go vote.
The Form
Filling Out the Form:
Required!
• Checkboxes in Section 1
• Full legal name in Section 2 (that matches
your ID or SSN)
• Date of birth in Section 2 or 3 (depending
on form)
• Residential address
• Signature
Filling Out the Form:
Key Sections
• Identifying numbers – Providing this
information helps the Board of Elections
verify your identity (required by federal law)
– This could be your NC driver’s license or ID or the
last four of your SSN
– If no ID # is listed, you’ll be required to show an
identifying document when you first vote
– On the new form: Focus voter’s attention on
Section 3 and check the box if they have no ID #
Filling Out the Form:
Key Sections
• Phone number
– So the Board of Elections can contact the
voter if there are any problems with the form
• Race, Gender & Ethnicity
– Helps monitor the political process for bias
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
What Party Should I
Register For?
• Tell them “You should choose a party that
most closely aligns with your values or you
can choose to be unaffiliated. I’m not
allowed to recommend a party.”
What’s the Difference
Between Parties?
• Resist the urge to answer this question
yourself.
• Instead say, “You can call or look up the
parties online to find out more about their
positions.”
• You can also use an elected official as an
illustration, “Ronald Reagan was a
Republican President; Barack Obama is a
Democratic President.”
I’ll be 18 Soon. Can I Register?
• If you will be 18 by the General Election in
the fall, then yes.
• You can vote in the primary if you’re 17 but
will be 18 on the day of the General
Election.
What if I Have a Felony
Conviction?
• Your sentence must be complete
(including any probation or parole) before
re-registering.
• Use the same form as anyone else. Reregister like a new voter.
• No special documents required!
What if I Have a
Misdemeanor Conviction?
• Don’t worry. Your right to vote is not
affected by a misdemeanor conviction,
even if you have served or are currently
serving a jail sentence.
What if I Have Pending
Felony Charges?
• As long as you have not been convicted,
your right to vote is intact.
What If I Don’t Have a
Permanent Address?
• Your residence address is where you sleep or
spend most of your time. If that’s a shelter or
a friend’s house, use that address. If you are
currently sleeping outside then you need to
draw a map describing your sleeping
location.
• Your mailing address can be a PO Box, a
local shelter, parent’s home – where else you
get mail.
• Be sure to update your registration when you
move.
I Think I’m Already
Registered.
• If you have a smart phone or laptop
available say, “I can look up your
registration right now at demnc.co/myreg.”
• If you can’t access the internet say, “You
can find out by calling the State Board of
Elections at (866) 522-4723.”
• Or, just suggest they re-register. The new
registration will update your old one.
What Happens After I
Register?
• You should receive a verification card from
the county Board of Elections.
• You may also get a letter asking for more
identifying information. This happens when
the Board of Elections can’t verify your
identity based on the information on the
voter registration form.
– Most common if the person doesn’t provide
any identifying numbers in Section 3.
What If the Voter is
Transgender?
• Make sure the name on your ID or Social
Security card matches the name on your
voter registration. Otherwise, it may derail
the verification process.
• Other questions? Call the State Board of
Elections at (866) 522-4723 .
TIPS FOR REGISTERING
VOTERS
Let Your Light Shine
• Speak out! If people are already registered
or don’t want to register, they’ll let you
know.
– Emphasize “update” or “current” – “Are you
registered at your current address?”
• Enthusiasm works! Stay upbeat and
friendly. Smile and talk to folks passing by.
Your warmth may convince them to stop
and register.
Share Information
• Incorporate voter education into your
conversations. Voting is most exciting in
context.
• Hand out Know Your Rights wallet cards,
information on voting with a felony
conviction, the recent voting law changes,
or other nonpartisan materials.
Make it Easy
• Provide a hard surface for people filling
out the form. It could be a table and chair
for a site-based drive or a clipboard if
you’re on foot.
• Offer to fill out the form for them, if they
have their hands full.
Get That Form!
• Double-check the form before the voter
leaves! Make sure all required & most key
sections are filled out.
• Keep the form and make sure it gets
turned in properly and on time.
• If someone wants to take a form with
them, be sure they know key sections to
complete and where to mail it when done.
What To Expect
• On average, site-based voter drives may
yield 5 to 7 registrations an hour per
volunteer. Door-to-door drives may yield
fewer per hour per volunteer team.
• Voter registration can be a slow process.
Don’t get discouraged!
HOLDING A VOTER
REGISTRATION DRIVE
How Will You Register
Voters?
• Site-based registration means setting up a
table at a community event, a store, a
church, or other high traffic location.
– These drives often result in higher numbers
for less effort
• Door-to-door registration means going
through a neighborhood.
– These drives allow you to target your efforts to
specific area or neighborhood
Making a Plan
• Pick a date and time: What days and times
are people most likely to be at the site or
in the neighborhood you’ve picked?
• Get permission from location sites, if
needed.
• Work with other groups, if possible.
What to Bring
• Voter registration forms and pens (blue
and black ink)
• Signs (“Register to Vote Here”)
• Clipboards (especially if registering onfoot)
• Nonpartisan voter education materials
• Envelope or box for completed forms
• Tables and chairs for both volunteers and
registrants
Also Consider Bringing
• Small giveaways (candy, stickers, or
buttons)
• Smart phone or laptop to check voters’
status online
Coordinating Volunteers
• Recruit more folks than you need to
account for possible last-minute
cancellations
• Plan to work in teams of two, especially for
door-to-door canvassing
• Sign volunteers up for shifts of 3-4 hours
Coordinating Volunteers
• Call volunteers the night before to confirm
they’re coming
• Make sure that the drive leader is
available to answer any questions that
come up
For More Information
• Visit
NCElectionConnection.com
NCSBE.gov
• Call
888-OUR-VOTE (Democracy NC)
866-522-4723 (State Board of Elections)