Register to Vote

IT'S EASY!

Thanks to the National Voter Registration Act, known as the "motor voter" law, registering to vote is more convenient than ever before. Now, all states (Minnesota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Wisconsin are exempt from the law) must allow citizens to register to vote by mail and must accept a universal mail-in voter registration form designed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The form makes voter registration an easy, one-step process. Just complete the form, mail it to the election official in your state and you will be notified when you are registered. The application form is accompanied by instructions that explain the information you must provide to register in your state.

Now to register, just do three things:

1. Get a mail-in voter registration form by calling your election office or local League of Women Voters or downloading the Registration Form from the FEC.
2. Complete the form according to the easy-to-follow instructions.
3. Mail the form to the address provided in the instructions.

It's that easy to apply to register to vote! The election office will notify you when your application has been approved and will tell you where to go on election day to cast your ballot!

The election office may want to mail you a form specifically designed for use in your state in place of the FEC form. The "motor voter" law allows states to design their own mail-in voter registration form. However, states are required to honor the universal FEC form as a valid application for voter registration.

The "motor voter" law also requires states to make voter registration available in many public agencies where it was not available before.

At the department of motor vehicles, voter registration must be incorporated into the process of applying for or renewing your driver's license or nondriver identification.

Voter registration must be made available at agencies that provide public assistance.

Agencies that dispense the following types of public assistance must offer voter registration:

• Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC)
• Medicaid
• Food Stamps
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits

Agencies that provide services to people with disabilities also must offer voter registration.

States also have designated some other offices, (libraries, schools, etc.) to make voter registration forms available.