Nonprofits Needed to Help Fill Poll Worker Shortage

Low turnout among young voters is often ascribed to apathy, but part of the problem is the barriers young people face when casting ballots or trying to work at the polls. Nonprofits can help remove these barriers. In many states, to register to vote, you must establish a "fixed and permanent" address. Yet many young people's "fixed and permanent" address is miles away from where they spend eight months of each year. College residence generally does not qualify as "fixed and permanent" for purposes of voting, since it does not demonstrate intent to establish residency. Residency issues also often prohibit students from becoming poll workers. Many states require that poll workers be registered in the state, which is a problem for many students. This is especially crucial at a time where Election Boards are warning of poll worker shortages. Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002 to assist the states in resolving many of these issues. It established the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to oversee implementation, including the HAVA College program. The program was created to encourage students enrolled at institutions of higher education to assist in local election administration by serving as poll workers. However, the EAC has not been adequately funded by Congress and many students are not getting the help they need. In addition, many organizations dedicated to increasing the number of registered youth voters have not taken effective action to assist students to become more involved. Nonprofits can provide a critical public service by taking steps to increase both voter turnout and participation. Voting gives students a voice in our democracy, but participation ensures there will be a democracy to vote in. For information on how your group can help see NPAction's Nonprofits Can Help America Vote! website.
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