Voter registration is the necessary first step in making sure the voices of “we the people” are heard by our elected officials. With the right information, anyone can register voters! Some key rules for voting in North Carolina have changed. Be prepared.
NOTE: This resource is currently being updated to reflect the current changes made by the NC Supreme Court in April 2023. Please check back soon for an updated version!
1. Choose the right time and location for your registration drive so plenty of your target people will see you. Be sure to get permission to conduct the drive if the location is on private property.
2. Engage voters by asking “Can I help you update your registration?” and “Are you registered to vote at your current address?” Don’t forget to smile and stay upbeat – a little kindness and energy goes a long way.
3. Have plenty of registration forms with you in English and in Spanish. Get forms from the county Board of Elections or Democracy North Carolina.
4. Other supplies: Clipboards, pens (black ink only), a visible sign saying “Register to Vote,” a bin or large envelope for completed forms. Also bring stickers and fun stuff to give away, flyers about voting rights and how and when to vote, and this guide for volunteers. 5. Recruit plenty of volunteers. About 25% of those who say they’ll help won’t show up!
5. Recruit plenty of volunteers. About 25% of those who say they’ll help won’t show up!
6. Be non-partisan. Don’t tell people what party to register for or who to vote for. Don’t have signs or buttons for a candidate. You must help register anyone regardless of what party they choose. Note: You can state your position on an amendment or bond issue and still be non-partisan.
7. It is illegal to pre-fill out the party affiliation or to throw away or destroy a person’s form.
8. Offer to review the form before the voter signs it. Some people will want to take it home but those forms are rarely turned in. Say you can help get it done correctly and quickly.
9. Train your volunteers on how to fill out forms correctly, remind them to review forms quickly — and always get the voter’s signature!
10. Turn in all forms to the elections board, even if parts are incomplete or voided.
11. If you want to retain a person’s email address after you’ve registered them to vote, ask them to provide it on a separate document like a pledge card. State law prohibits people other than election officials from retaining certain information from voter registration forms, including email addresses, signatures, dates of birth, full or partial Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers.