Using New Voter Registration Tools in Orange, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz.
Orange, California
California is one of the handful of states that continues to fight full implementation of the Motor Vehicle Law. But here in Orange County, with the specter of bankruptcy hanging over them, social service workers see their ability to register their clients as a plus—after all, the clients know better than anyone else how important financial and medical assistance is to their own survival and that of their families.
"When I was told about it at first, I thought, 'Oh, no. Not another form. Which basket am I going to put it in?'" said Eligibility Technician Magdalena Baily. "But, in reality, it's a totally different story.
"You start telling them about their rights. I know it makes an impact. You can see it in their eyes," she said. "Actually, a couple of days ago, I had a woman who chose to register. It was her first time registering."
"I registered six clients for the first time," said Medical Intake Worker Samuel Carmona. "Three of them didn't know where to register. All of them were proud."
But the efforts of these two Local 2706 (Council 36) stewards don't stop with registering voters.
"I encourage those who are legal residents to become citizens—and then to come back to me when they can register to vote. And they do listen," said Baily. "Even if they don't come back to apply, they call and let you know what they did. It's a nice feeling. You remember that."
"I enjoy that," said Carmona, "They feel you really care—that they have a friend. So the rest of the interview goes better because they feel you're on their side. Two or three a day decide to become citizens."
Local 2706 member Dane Clark doesn't see registering clients to vote as a difficult task either. "I just grab a form when I'm going into the reinvestigation meeting. If they say they don't want to register, I say, 'Give it to a friend.' I've had a lot of positive responses from clients. They say they wouldn't have thought of it."
"A lot of clients have moved and forgotten to re-register. We help them do that," AFSCME Council 36 Vice Pres. Sandra Macatee explained. "We let them know that it's in their best interest to vote."
"I have Vietnamese clients—recently citizens," said Local 2706 Trustee Richard Phan. "I've been encouraging them to register and vote. They need time for readjustment," he said. "Some may be from relocation camps. Coming over here, they need time to learn about the freedom in this country. I point out to them that when they become citizens they have the right to vote."
"There are some who feel, 'I don't have the right to vote because I'm receiving benefits,'" said Local 2706 Steward Debra Johnson. "I've had only positive experiences. They say, 'Well, thanks. This is pretty easy.'"
Getting Problems Solved
"We get complaints on a daily basis," said Joanne Brown, an eligibility technician. "'Why are they cutting our benefits? Why are they cutting our services?' They're doing it because they can.
"We've become a nation of people who believe their vote doesn't count," she said. "I refuse to believe that. I believe that choosing our leaders is a right and a privilege that we should cherish.
"With the motor voter program, we have the perfect opportunity to impress on our clients that the place to take their opinions is the polls," said Brown. "If they are unsatisfied, they can have a voice—but they have to assume a little responsibility too. I put everybody on the spot. I ask my co-workers if they're registered. We have no one to blame but ourselves if we sit back and do nothing at all."
Knowing they have rights has even encouraged clients to stand up for themselves.
"[Orange County's recent] bankruptcy has raised so much awareness about government," Local 2706 Pres. Nikki Niznik said. "Our clients are very much aware of what's going on."
"A lot of them were out there talking for the program," said Baily. "They spoke up for us when we went before the Board of Examiners. One client cried in front of the board."
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The National Voter Registration Act of 1993, also known as the Motor Voter Act, went into effect in January of 1995*. It's an effort, strongly supported by AFSCME, to make it as easy as possible for working people to register and have their voices heard. Throughout U.S. history, those with land and money have fought to control voting rights. Women, African Americans, and those who did not own land were kept from voting. There were poll taxes, literacy tests. When these were outlawed, other methods were found to limit voting rights. Voter registration was made as difficult as possible. In some areas, offices were open for very short periods, and someone wanting to help register friends and co-workers had to spend hours being trained as a registrar. Motor Voter has changed all that. And it has given us a new tool that we can use to help us register friends, family, and co-workers, and also to bring clients—those using public services—to the polls. But the tool will only be helpful if we use it. One aspect of Motor Voter is that public agencies and their employees are now part of the voter registration system. In state motor vehicles departments, unregistered voters automatically register or change their address when they renew their licenses. And, in social service agencies, staff give clients the new universal voter registration form and offer to help them to complete it as part of the interview process. Many private non-profit agencies are voluntarily providing voter registration materials to their clients. *EXCEPTIONS: For Arkansas and Virginia, the law goes into effect this year; 1999 for Vermont. North Dakota is not covered because it does not require advance registration. Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are exempted from coverage because of their current laws. Illinois and Mississippi, after fighting implementation through the courts and losing, have set up a dual registration system; they will only register voters for federal, not state or local, elections through Motor Voter. This is being challenged in the courts.
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Learning About Motor Voter in Phoenix
As part of its internal organizing effort, AFSCME Council 97 holds "Lunch and Learn" sessions where they discuss current issues and encourage workers to sign up for AFSCME membership—and take a more active role in local union activities.
The mid-December meeting with social service workers represented by Local 3185 included a discussion about the value of encouraging clients to register to vote under the new Motor Voter procedure.
Eligibility Interviewer Julie Swenson explained how the system works in her office. "We ask clients coming into the building if they want to register. We ask them at the interview. And we ask them as they leave. We have posters up all over the place—'You Can Register to Vote Here.' In fact, I registered to vote here. My address had changed, and I didn't have time to go to motor vehicles.
"I get all the people who are upset," said Swenson. "I say, 'It doesn't help to be upset at us. You have to go out and vote because that's the only way you're going to get things done.'"
The results of the meeting were better than expected. Eight signed AFSCME membership cards; five filled out voter registration forms.
