Guidance for Voter Registration Activities During COVID-19

Voter registration activities during COVID-19

In-person voter registration activities continue to be heavily affected by unfolding events. Leagues are encouraged to consider virtual voter registration campaigns utilizing the 50-state tool available on VOTE411.org, which is also being updated daily as election processes and dates change.

Download the file below to see some of the ways Leagues have innovated to plan virtual and hybrid activities to engage voters! 

Here are some additional tips:   

• For Leagues with school registration events postponed or canceled, consider asking teachers or administrators to work voter registration into their distance learning curriculum for eligible 17 and 18 year old students. VOTE411.org provides a seamless online registration process for most voters in the approximately 40 states with online voter registration (though many states exclude people without a driver’s license or state ID). The site provides a step-by-step process for completing the registration application (including emailing a printable PDF version to the applicant) for those who cannot do it entirely online, such as those without driver’s licenses.  

• If other agencies you normally work with (federal courts or USCIS offices for new citizen voter registration, housing authorities, libraries) have moved to online business practices, ask them to incorporate voter registration messages and alerts into their communications with the public, including a link to your League and to VOTE411.org.  

• Promote the National Mail Voter Registration Form voters can print and send by mail, which is available in 15 different languages, or your state-specific paper form. 

• If you’ve been collecting contact information from voters at your voter registration activities, now is a great time to ask League volunteers to do some follow-up from home. Call, text, or send postcards to voters reminding them to vote in your upcoming primaries- or start making a plan now to do so for your General Election! Check out our GOTV guide here.  

• Encourage all voters in their communities to check their voter registration (again, VOTE411 is a great place to start) BEFORE any state deadlines, especially if your election dates or deadlines have changed.  

• If you DO proceed with in-person voter registration activities, follow all CDC and local government guidelines regarding health and safety and check in regularly with your volunteers to gauge their feedback and comfort level.  

• Get partners involved. We’re all disappointed about the cancelation of in-person events; but your direct assistance agency partners, community and resident organizations, and other partners may be more than happy to include relevant voter registration information in their newsletters, on their websites, social media messages, and other platforms. Find other shareable information here.