Flo Florida rida De Depar partme tment nt of of St Stat ate - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Flo Florida rida De Depar partme tment nt of of St Stat ate Natio ional l Voter er Reg egis istra rati tion on Act t (NVRA) RA)/St /State e Law Over ervie iew w & T & Trai aini ning ng for Voter er Reg egis istra trati tion on Age genci cies es Katrinia Ferguson, NVRA Statewide Coordinator Maria Matthews, Esq . Director, Division of Elections Up Updated ed No November r 2015

MOD MODUL ULE E CO CONT NTENTS ENTS 1. NVRA History and Voter Registration Agency Definition 2. Regulations and Requirements Overview 3. Completing a Voter Registration Application 4. Non-Compliance, Resources & Contact Information 2

NVRA A Hist stor ory y & & Voter er Reg egist stration ration Age gency ncy De Definiti inition on

NVRA RA Hi Hist stor ory  NVRA passed by US Congress in 1993 • Also known as “Motor Voter Law” Designated government entities as Voter Registration Agencies (VRAs) • • Made broad changes to voter registration laws throughout US  Can register while getting driver’s license  Can register through mail  Can register at Voter Registration Agencies  Enabled in FL with passage of 1995 Florida Voter Registration Act • Governed by:  National Voter Registration Act (Federal law) - 52 U.S.C. § 20501 - 52 U.S.C. § 20511  State Law - s. 97.058, Fla. Stat.  Rule - 1S.2048, Florida Administrative Code

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Typ ypes es of of VRA RAs Offices that provide state funded Offices that provide public programs for persons with assistance disabilities •Department of Health’s Special • Agency for Persons with Disabilities Supplemental Food Program for •Department of Veteran’s Affairs Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) • Department of Education: • Department of Children and • Division of Blind Services Families: • Division of Vocational • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Rehabilitation Program (SNAP) • Department of Financial Services: • Medicaid/Kidcare Program •Division of Workers’ Compensation • Temporary Cash Assistance • Disability offices at public colleges Program (TANF) and universities • Substance Abuse

Typ ypes es of of VRA RAs s (cont’d) Armed Forces Centers for Public Libraries Recruitment Offices Independent Living • 17 CILs in Florida • Army • Operate under slightly • Umbrella organization different rules than • Navy Florida Association of other VRAs (see NVRA • Marines Centers for Independent Workshop for Libraries) • Coast Guard Living • Includes county and • National Guard • Federally mandated municipal libraries under s. 725, 1973 Rehabilitation Act • Governed by S. 413- 371 – 413.401 Fla. Stat.

VRAs s are e NO NOT Third-Par arty ty Vot oter er Reg egistration tration Orga ganizati nizations ons (3PVROs) s)  3PVROs are private individuals, non-profit corporations, or political organizations that conduct voter registration drives  Governed by s. 97.0575 Fla. Stat. and Rule 1S-2.042, F.A.C.  For further information, please see: • http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voter- registration/third-party-voter-registration-organizations/ 8

MOD ODULE LE ON ONE E Revie iew Que w Questi stion ons 1) What year was the NVRA signed into law? 2) What laws govern voter registration agencies? 3) What is the definition of a Third-Party Voter Registration Organization (3PVRO)? 4) What is the definition of a Voter Registration Agency (VRA)? 9

MODU DULE LE ONE E Revie iew Answ w Answer ers 1) NVRA was signed into law in 1993. 2) The laws that govern voter registration agencies are NVRA, section 97.058 Florida Statutes and Rule 1S-2.048, Florida Administrative Code. 3) A 3PVRO is any person, entity or organization that is private, non-profit, or political that collects voter registration applications through a drive. 4) A VRA is an office that provides services such as public assistance and assistance to persons with disabilities. It can also include an armed forces recruitment office, a center for independent living and a public library. 10

Reg egulati ulations ons an and Req equi uirem emen ents Ov ts Over ervie view

Voter er Reg egis istr trati ation on Agen ency cy Reg egulat ulation ions  Although VRAs primary function is not voter registration, they are required by federal and state law to provide certain voter registration services: • Designate a NVRA Coordinator • Provide NVRA Training to staff • Offer voters registration opportunities • Provide same of level of assistance as the office’s core services • Report quarterly on voter registration activities • These requirements are fully described in:  Federal Law – National Voter Registration Act  State Law – Florida Statute 97.058  Florida Administrative Code – Division of Elections Rule 1S-2.048 12

As Assi sista stanc nce  Each agency staff responsible for providing agency services must: • Offer same level of help to register as is offered for the agency services whether it be:  Telephone  In-person  Online  Home visit • At time of new services, renewal/recertification or address update offer the opportunity to register • NO NEED to ask individual each time he/she receives agency services 13

NVRA RA Coor oordi dina nator ors s Ou Outl tlin ine  Each agency shall designate a coordinator, who shall: • Notify DOE NVRA Coordinator of their contact information every time there is a change in staffing  Identify agency staff whose duties involve offering new or renewal of agency services, or address updates for those services: • Front line desk staff • Case managers Managing entities •  Provide training to the above-identified staff on voter registration responsibilities: • In-house County Supervisor of Elections • • DOE NVRA Coordinator 14

Track ack an and R d Rep epor ort . NVRA V OTER R EGISTRATION A GENCIES (D ESIGNATED BY NVRA AND S . 97.058, F.S.) Q UARTERLY A CTIVITIES R EPORT F ORM Reporting Periods : Due dates for the 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th calendar quarterly reports are April 15, July 15, October 15, and January 15 for the preceding 3-month calendar period, respectively. DS-DE 131 (eff. 01/2012)(Rule 1S-2.048) Complete form #DS-DE 131 NVRA  1. Voter Registration Agency: 2. Coordinator Name: Quarterly Activities Report and e-mail 3. Check reporting quarter: Q 1___Q2___Q3 ___ 4___ Q 4. Indicate calendar year of reporting quarter: to: VRA.Reporting@DOS.MyFlorida.com Please provide data for your agency, by county. 1. How many clients declined to register or update his or her voter registration record? Alachua Gilchrist Manatee Suwannee • Can submit in Excel with DOS approval Baker Glades Monroe Taylor Bay Gulf Marion Union Bradford Hamilton Martin Volusia • Each individual office does not report data Brevard Hardee Nassau Wakulla Broward Hendry Okaloosa Walton Calhoun Hernando Okeechobee Washington to DOS, but instead reports to its Charlotte Highlands Orange Citrus Hillsborough Osceola district/regional office/managing office, Clay Holmes Palm Beach Collier Indian River Pasco Columbia Jackson Pinellas which will report to the DOS Dade Jefferson Polk DeSoto Lafayette Putnam Dixie Lake Santa Rosa Duval Lee Sarasota Escambia Leon Seminole Quarterly report due dates are:  Flagler Levy St. Johns Franklin Liberty St. Lucie Gadsden Madison Sumter First Quarter ………………… .April 15 th • 2. How many clients sought new or renewal of agency services or assistance or made an address change with an agency in each category: (please answer 2a. – 2 f.) • Second Quarter …………… July 15 th 2a. In Person Alachua Gilchrist Manatee Suwannee • Third Quarter …… . ……… .....October15 th Baker Glades Monroe Taylor Bay Gulf Marion Union • Fourth Quarter …………… . January 15 th Bradford Hamilton Martin Volusia Brevard Hardee Nassau Wakulla Broward Hendry Okaloosa Walton Calhoun Hernando Okeechobee Washington Charlotte Highlands Orange Citrus Hillsborough Osceola Clay Palm Beach Holmes Collier Indian River Pasco Columbia Jackson Pinellas 15

MOD ODULE LE TWO O Revie iew w Qu Quest estio ions ns 1) What are the VRA requirements? 2) How should a VRA provide assistance/help to individuals for voter registration opportunities? 3) What is the NVRA Quarterly Report DS form number? 4) What office(s) can provide NVRA staff training? 16

MODU DULE LE TWO Revie iew Answ w Answer ers 1) The VRA requirements are to designate a NVRA Coordinator, provide voter registration activity training, offer opportunities to register and update registration, provide same level assistance and report quarterly the voter registration activities to the DOS office. 2) VRAs should offer same level of assistance/help to register as offered for the agency services. 3) The NVRA Quarterly Report Form number is DS-DE 131. 4) Training can be provided by the county Supervisor of Elections offices and Department of State. 17

Com omple leti ting ng a a Sta tatewi wide de Voter er Reg egis istr trati ation on Ap Applic icati ation on DS DS-DE DE #3 #39