Chapter at the forefront of voter registration:
Is your agency doing its part?

By Tom Hill, Chapter Intern
(May 1996)

What has your agency done to implement voter registration as an integral part of everyday procedure? As a social worker in your agency, what have you done to develop and enhance this process? If your agency has cited voter registration as a priority and is successfully registering clients, keep up the good work. If your agency has, on the other hand, launched a lukewarm attempt or done nothing at all, consider this a wake-up call.

The National Voter Registration Act (NRVA) was signed in 1993 by President Clinton, but the footwork began a decade earlier, through the efforts of Richard Cloward and Francis Fox Piven and their organization, HumanSERVE. In addition to clients being offered voter registration by the Department of Motor Vehicles in all states (hence the cute but misleading nickname, Motor Voter Act), NRVA also mandates that public social service agencies provide voter registration to clients who go through those systems. In New York State, most not for profit agencies are required to provide registration as well.

In the past year, the Chapter has been working in conjunction with HumanSERVE to provide voter registration training to agency staffs. The training begins with a brief history of NVRA and how it has played out in New York State politics, with upstate constituencies having an advantage over those in New York City. In addition, three major areas of importance are covered: implementation of voter registration procedures in agency practice, non-partisan voter education, and get out the vote (GOTV) strategies. Experience has taught that, without a basic understanding of the civic process and a push to the polls, many clients do not vote, rendering voter registration ineffective.

Voter education, when practiced in an agency setting, is required by law to be non-partisan in content. No names of persons or political parties can be mentioned explicitly. A staff member may, however, provide information on current issues such as legislative budget cuts, limitations placed on entitlements, and downsizing and shutting down of agencies. Clients can draw their own conclusions regarding which legislators are in support of or are in opposition to such issues, and vote accordingly.

This summer, the Chapter will be developing GOTV strategies for the upcoming elections in November 1996. While registering voters in their agencies, staff members are urged to keep a running list of names and phone numbers so that, right before election day, volunteers can remind clients to get to the polls. Some agencies, without a volunteer pool, have had clients fill out and address postcards to themselves, which will be sent out a week before the election.

Every client who utilizes the services provided by your agency should be asked at least once if they would like to register to vote. In addition, their participation in the electorial process should be encouraged. Notions of client empowerment must become more expansive to include the client's involvement in political decisions that are directly affecting his or her life. Voter participation can be an initial step in this direction. Social workers can also use this as a tool in empowering themselves and thus empowering the profession.

So, it's time to get busy. Schedule a training by calling HumanSERVE at 212 854-4053, and get your clients registered and ready for the polls. November is just a heartbeat away.