Voter Registration Overview

On May 20, 1993, President Clinton signed the NVRA which requires voter registration services to be offered at all public assistance agencies. On May 4, 1995, the U.S. District Court ordered the State of California to implement the NVRA by June 19, 1995. This law was passed to encourage participation in elections by increasing access to voter registration. In 2014, SB 113 was signed into law. SB 113 allows voter pre-registration for eligible 16 and 17 year olds once the State of California’s voter registration database, VoteCal, was certified. VoteCal was certified in September 2016.

Mandatory Annual NVRA Training

EWs must register and complete the “Annual Voter Registration” online training course annually. This mandatory training course reviews the NVRA and SB 35 requirements and provides instructions about how to assist clients with voter registration.

Reception Areas

This section describes the procedures that are mandated by the NVRA. In addition to the specific NVRA requirements, VRCs must be available to the public at all times in the lobby area of each district office.

EW Requirements

Voter registration requirements apply to all aid programs including CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and GA. EWs must offer clients the same level of assistance in completing the VRCs that would be offered in completing any other agency forms.

Note: These requirements only apply to FC when the child's guardian or parent completes the face-to-face interview.

EWs must:

Give clients the opportunity to register to vote by issuing the form, “Would You Like To Register To Vote?” (SCD 508) AND a VRC at each application, RRR or when there is a change of address.
Provide the VRC and SCD 508 to any adult applying for benefits on behalf of a minor child (i.e., non-needy caretaker relatives) and any 16- and 17-year-old minor living in the home and receiving benefits.
Provide the VRC and SCD 508 (available on the DEBS Forms Library) in the appropriate non-English language when requested by the client.
Offer assistance to clients in completing the VRC.
Accept and mail VRCs to the Registrar of Voters Office WITHIN 3 DAYS if the cards are returned to this agency.

Note: Send them to the Registrar by regular mail. Do not batch and/or mail VRCs, as delays could result in clients missing voter registration deadlines for local, state, or national elections.

Not screen clients for voter eligibility. VRCs must be given to all adult clients and all 16- and 17-year-old minors receiving assistance.
Not attempt to influence the client's decision to register to vote or the client's choice of a political party.
Not withhold or delay assistance because of voter registration requirements. Public assistance benefits are not affected by the applicant's decision to register, or not to register, to vote.
Attempt to make a second contact with the client if they do not return the SCD 508.
Provide voter registration services whether the transaction is conducted in person or remotely (i.e., via phone or Benefits CalWIN application).

Who May Pre-Register to Vote

Pre-registration for 16 or 17 year olds can be completed online at http://registertovote.ca.gov/ or by filling out a VRC. Pre-registration does not change the voting age, which is still 18. California youth who pre-register to vote will receive a confirmation postcard after turning 18 years old, stating that their voter registration is active. Pre-registration is available to California youth who are 16 or 17 year olds and are:

A U.S. citizen,
A resident of California,
Not currently imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and
Not prohibited from voting by a court because of mental incompetency.

Who May Register

To register to vote in California, an individual must:

Be a U.S. citizen,
Be a California resident,
Be at least 18 years old by the date of the next election,
Not be currently in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and
Not be judged by a court to be mentally incompetent.

SCD 508

The form, “Would You Like To Register To Vote?” (SCD 508) must be given to all applicants at intake, RRRs, or whenever there is a change of address. The SCD 508:

Defines who may register to vote.
Advises clients of their rights pertaining to the SCC Agency's responsibilities and provides the Secretary of State's toll-free number and address, should clients wish to file a complaint.
Provides a section for clients to request or decline to register.
Is available in English and the following required languages for SCC; Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese, on the DEBS Forms Library.

Only one SCD 508 must be completed at each application, RRR, and when a change of address is reported. If there is more than one adult and/or 16- or 17-year-old minor in the household, EWs must issue additional VRCs when requested.

Note: If a client chooses not to complete the SCD 508, a blank copy with the client’s name must still be sent to imaging under F1 - Applications. This does not apply to applications made via MyBCW.