VOTING FAQ: Checking Your Voter Registration Before Going to the Polls at “Say Cheese”

In an announcement from the campaign, the Obama team notes their they have worked with the Democratic Party to build the most comprehensive voter protection program ever put in place. According to the Obama campaign, volunteers and campaign staffers across the country are working to protect your rights on Election Day. They are testing voting systems, examining ballot designs, pushing to reduce lines, and expanding opportunities for early and absentee voting.

They have also been carefully monitoring the voter rolls — they are watching to make sure new registrants get on the rolls, and stay there.

Remember, it’s always a good idea to check your voter registration. You can check your registration by calling the Secretary of State’s Office or local registrar in your home state. You can find some of this information at the National Association of Secretaries of State website: http://www.canivote.org/

If you do encounter a problem at your voting place and find that your name is not on the voter rolls, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot.

It is true that election officials routinely conduct list maintenance — and when done properly, it helps keep the voting lists clean and up-to-date — this maintenance is sometimes referred to as a “purge.” Two recent studies have highlighted room for improvement in state laws governing this maintenance. Neither study found any current illegal purges.

It is also true that as part of routine maintenance, election officials will try to confirm certain registration information by trying to “match” it up with other records. One recent news article confused matching with purging–they are very different activities.

They’re tracking any attempts to game the voter rolls through purges or inappropriate matching very carefully, and responding appropriately on a continuous basis.

In Wisconsin, we are actively supporting state agencies as they defend against frivolous “matching” lawsuits filed by Republicans; in Montana, we’ve already thwarted the Republicans’ attempts to purge legitimate voters. The Supreme Court recently blocked the Republicans’ disruptive attempt to force a change to last-minute “matching” on the Ohio Secretary of State, and preserved the integrity of the elections for all of Ohio’s voters.

We’re working to ensure that these issues do not affect voters on Election Day.

If you do encounter a problem at your voting place and find that your name is not on the voter rolls, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot.

We’re making sure that the elections are secure this November. Come out and vote!

[source: http://truth.voteforchange.com/articles/purging]