§ 97.058 Voter registration agencies.

(2) Each voter registration agency, other than a public library, must develop and provide each applicant with a form approved by the department containing all of the following:

(a) The questions:

1. “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote today?”
2. “If you are registered to vote where you live now, would you like to update your voter registration record?”

(b) For agencies providing public assistance, the statement, “Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.”

(c) Boxes for the applicant to check which indicate that:

1. The applicant would like to register to vote or update a current voter registration;
2. The applicant would like to decline to register to vote; or
3. The applicant is already registered to vote and does not need to update the voter registration, together with the statement, “If you do not check any box, you will be considered to have decided not to register to vote or update a voter registration at this time.”

(d) The statement, “If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application, we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the voter registration application in private.”

(e) The statement, “If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of State.”

(f) The address and telephone number of the appropriate office in the department where a complaint may be filed.

(g) A statement that all declinations will remain confidential and may be used only for voter registration purposes.

(h) A statement that informs the applicant who chooses to register to vote or update a voter registration record that the office at which the applicant submits a voter registration application or updates a voter registration record will remain confidential and may be used only for voter registration purposes.

(b) A voter registration agency must provide to each applicant under subsection (1) the voter registration application that the agency decides to use pursuant to paragraph (a). An applicant who indicates a desire to register to vote or update a voter registration record must be provided the same degree of assistance with regard to the completion of that voter registration application as is provided by the agency with regard to the completion of its own forms, unless the applicant refuses that assistance.

(8) A person providing voter registration services for a voter registration agency may not:

(a) Seek to influence an applicant’s political preference or party registration;

(b) Display any political preference or party allegiance;

(c) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits;

(d) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to discourage the applicant from registering to vote; or

(e) Disclose any applicant’s voter registration information except as needed for the administration of voter registrations.

History: