How to Keep You From Getting Kicked Off the State Voter Lists
The Supreme Court ruled today in favor of the aggressive cleaning of the Ohio voting rolls . Basically, they say the state can “deregister” people to vote if they miss a couple’s election and do not respond to a notice from state election officials. Here’s how to prevent this from happening to you.
To clarify, this is actually contrary to US federal law to exclude people from the voter lists “because a person did not vote,” but this is not technically happening here. There are a number of reasons why you could be removed from the voter lists , but the Supreme Court ruled that election officials can send confirmation notice to voters they suspect have moved if they did not vote in the recent election. So Ohio and other states can’t clear voter lists simply because people haven’t voted, but they can send confirmation notices and then clear out voters who didn’t respond – which Ohio is doing aggressively.
While it is logical that the state would like to maintain a clean and accurate voter list as much as possible, this ruling continues to set a problematic precedent for a large segment of the population. For some it is already difficult to vote in every election – for example, the poor, the disabled, the homeless, the elderly and those without access to transport – and this only makes it harder for them to stay registered so their voices are heard. Imagine that you finally get to the polling station and find out that you were removed from the list because you missed the letter.
If you don’t want this to happen to you in your state, there are several things you can do. First, you can vote in every election, which you should probably do anyway if you can. Consistent voting means government officials won’t think you’ve moved or died, and therefore won’t even send a confirmation notice. So, if anything, this is a clear reminder that voting is important, even if it is not a presidential election. Bring these stickers, folks. It is your right and your duty.
You can also check your voter registration status . Sites like Headcount.org and Vote.org have tools to guide you to your state’s sites or give you toll-free phone numbers you can call that will tell you if you are registered and for which party. In fact, do it now to be safe. If you are removed from the list, if you have not registered yet, or need to update your personal information, do so as soon as possible. Each state has voter registration deadlines that must be met in order to vote. In California, for example, you must register at least 15 days before the election , otherwise you will have to submit a preliminary ballot at the same time you register with the election office. But every state is different, so double check the election dates and deadlines on the US Voting Foundation website .
Every US citizen is guaranteed the right to vote, but the Supreme Court essentially ruled that you need to fulfill some minor responsibilities in order to preserve that right. Stay active, alert, and aware until this rule changes – if it ever changes.