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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES VOTER REGISTRATION

10/24 VOLUME V, PART II, APPENDIX I, PAGE 1

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) requires local social services agencies offer each applicant for TANF, SNAP benefits, and Medicaid an opportunity to apply to register to vote at initial application and at each review of eligibility. Voter registration application services must also be provided any time a change of address is reported to the local agency in person. Local agency staff must provide the same degree of assistance in completing voter registration applications as is done in completing applications for assistance.

A. Prohibitions

Local social services agencies and agency staff are prohibited from making any statements or taking any action that:

1. seeks to influence customers' political preferences;

2. displays any political preference or party affiliation;

3. discourages individuals from applying to register to vote; or

4. leads individuals to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any impact on their eligibility for assistance or the benefit level that they are entitled to receive.

B. Voter Registration Services

Each local social services agency, including satellite offices, must provide the following services:

1. distribute voter registration application forms for completion by customers at the agency or to be taken for registration by mail;

2. assist customers in completing the voter registration application form unless such assistance is refused;

3. ensure that spaces of the voter registration application are completed, including identifying the locality name on the reverse side of the form;

4. complete the agency certification form;

5. make brochures about amendments to the Virginia constitution available for distribution; and

6. accept voter registration application forms for transmittal to the local general registrar.

a. Each completed registration application must be submitted to the local registrar every Friday or on the last working day before Friday if Friday is a holiday. Envelopes with completed registration forms must be marked with an "A" in the upper left corner and the number of registration forms in the envelope.

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