U.S. Election Assistance Commission

WASHINGTON- U.S. Election Assistance Commission Chair Rosemary Rodriguez today reminded voters to make sure they are registered to vote for the 2008 presidential election. Joining with the National Association of Secretaries of State, which has declared September 2008 National Voter Registration Month, Chair Rodriguez offered several steps citizens can take to ensure they are registered.

“New and returning voters should take steps now to make sure they are ready to participate in the November election,” said Chair Rodriguez.  “People who have registered for the first time should confirm that they provided all of the necessary information and are indeed registered. For returning voters, verify that the registration is current and valid.”

Chair Rodriguez recommends taking the following steps:

Know the registration deadline
Most states require citizens to register 15 to 30 days before the federal election. Deadlines for each state are available at www.eac.gov. Citizens can register by filling out their state’s registration form or the National Mail Voter Registration Form, which can be downloaded at www.eac.gov. Military and overseas voters should register by filling out the Federal Post Card Application, which is available at www.fvap.gov. This form should be submitted at least 45 days before the election.

Follow registration instructions carefully
It’s important that registration forms are filled in completely and legibly. If critical information is missing, such as a signature or address, a form could be rejected.

Those who’ve moved should update their registration
Any time a voter moves they must reregister with their new elections board. This is especially important for military and overseas voters, who risk not receiving their absentee ballot if they fail to update their registration after a move. Voters should also contact their former elections office and ask them to remove their name from their registration list.
 

Confirm registration with elections office
Citizens who have registered to vote this election cycle, and did not receive an official registration confirmation from their elections office, should call their local office to confirm they are in fact registered. It’s important to do this before the state’s registration deadline to ensure there’s time to re-register, if necessary. Contact information, including phone numbers and Web site addresses, for state election offices is available at www.eac.gov.

The EAC is an independent commission created by the Help America Vote Act.  The EAC serves as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration.  It is charged with administering payments to states and developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and accrediting voting system test laboratories and certifying voting equipment.  It is also charged with developing and maintaining a national mail voter registration form. The three EAC commissioners are Rosemary Rodriguez, chair; Donetta Davidson, vice chair; and Gracia Hillman. There is one vacancy on the commission.