507 REGISTRATION THROUGH VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCIES

507.1 Each voter registration agency shall do the following:

1. (a) Distribute a voter registration application with each application for service or assistance, and with each recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to such service or assistance, unless the applicant, in writing, declines to register to vote;
2. (b) Provide to each applicant for service or assistance, recertification or renewal, or change of address, information regarding voter registration, pursuant to D.C. Code § 1- 1001.07(d) (3) (2006 Repl.);
3. (c) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to register to vote the same degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the registration application form as provided by the office with regard to the completion of its own form, unless the applicant refuses such assistance;
4. (d) Indicate on each form, in a consistent manner, the date of acceptance by the voter registration agency; and
5. (e) Accept completed voter registration applications and forward the applications to the Board of Elections and Ethics not later than ten (10) days after its acceptance by the agency, except that if a voter registration application is accepted at a voter registration office within five (5) days before the deadline for voter registration-by-mail in any election, the application shall be transmitted by the agency to the Board not later than five (5) days after the date of acceptance.

507.2 If a voter registration agency provides services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency shall provide the services required in § 507.1 at the person's home.

507.3 The voter registration application provided by each voter registration agency must be approved by the Board.

507.4 Each voter registration application shall be considered as updating any previous voter registration by an applicant who is already listed as a registered voter, or whose name appears on the inactive list of registered voters.

507.5 If the applicant declines to register to vote, the declination shall be in duplicate as follows:

1. (a) The original copy of the declination is provided by the agency to the applicant; and
2. (b) The duplicate copy of the declination is retained by the voter

registration agency.

507.6 The duplicate copy of the declination shall be retained by the voter registration agency for a period of at least twenty-two (22) months.507.7 The Board shall ensure that the identity of the voter registration agency through which any particular individual is registered to vote is not disclosed to the public.507.8 The chief officer of each voter registration agency shall do the following:- (a) Ensure that each agency office, site, or substation contains an adequate number of voter registration applications and relative materials necessary to carry out the requirements of D.C. Code § 1-1001.07(d) (2006 Repl.);

- (b) Ensure that each agency office, site, or substation conforms to the requirements of D.C. Code § 1-1001.07(d) (2006 Repl.);

- (c) Ensure that each employee at each agency office, site, or substation is adequately trained to carry out the requirements of D.C. Code § 1-1001.07(d) (2006 Repl.);

- (d) Ensure that voter registration applications are transmitted timely to the Board of Elections, pursuant to D.C. Code § 1-1001.07(d)(8) (2006 Repl.), or if no voter registration applications are received during that time period, provide written notice of such to the Board of Elections;

- (e) Report, at the request of the chief administrative officer of the Board, the number of citizens at each site who decline to register to vote pursuant to D.C. Code § 1-1001.07(d) (2006 Repl.); and

- (f) Submit in writing and answer any questions as the chief administrative officer of the Board of Elections or the Board may prescribe that relate to the administration and enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and of the National Voter Registration Act Conforming Amendment Act of 1994.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 43 D.C. Reg. 1078, 1083-84 (March 1, 1996); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 56 D.C. Reg. 4738, 4740 (June 19, 2009); and as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 57 D.C. Reg. 3267, 3274 (April 16, 2010).