First I would like to address the size of the new proposed voter registration application. It will not fit in the in the current file drawers. I believe that will be the case with most if not all offices. I am not sure what kind of savings this is for ELECT, but it will be a huge cost for localities that already have file cabinets that the current size application/alpha card will fit in. Many localities have purchased the sleeves that the alpha card will slide into to protect them. They could probably be folded, but that will take more time and the current files can get caught up in the folds and create more problems.

There are several boxes that could be eliminated if applicants cannot be denied if they leave them blank. Just include them in the affirmation.( By signing the affirmation below, you confirm you are a US citizen, you are not a felon/or your rights have been restored,  and you have not been previously adjudicated to be mentally incapacitated. The box for Gender should be eliminated as well if they cannot be denied for not providing that information. Why take up the space for boxes?

Under the line for middle name it should say “required or write none”; otherwise, localities are supposed to attempt to contact the applicant. If we can’t reach them by phone, then I guess we send a letter along with a new application in the event they do have a middle name and have to fill out another application and then we wait for a response. If we can reach them by phone, and they indicate they have a middle name, we have to deny the application and send them another one. If we cannot verify they do or do not have a middle name, we cannot deny the application and have to assume they do not have a middle name. That is a lot of time and money to just accept the application anyway.

An applicant cannot be denied if their mailing address is different from the residence address. Does this mean they can use another physical address because the old form says it must be a post office box. This is a huge reoccurring problem when you have people registering and have no physical mail box in front of their residence, cannot afford to buy one to put up and cannot afford to pay for a PO Box. If we tell them they cannot have their mail sent to their friends’, neighbors’, parents’ or one of their children’s “physical” addresses are we not telling them they have to spend money to be registered to vote?

 I agree with several other Registrar’s that the previous voter registration information is certainly in an inconvenient spot on the application. I am not sure why it is included at all if it is immaterial and we cannot deny an application if it is not provided.

Please take into consideration the extra work and money it is going to cost in processing the proposed application. None of us have money in the budget for anything extra as it is.