Voter Rights

This comes very late, being only the day before the election, but I thought I'd pass it along. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund has a handy-dandy page with pdf's of a "Voter Bill of Rights" for 45 states. They've developed these by combing through state election law. In several cases, they have the same information in Spanish as well as English. In addition, I have state sites which contain either a "Voter Bill Of Rights" or a "Voter Rights and Responsibilities" (same thing) listed below. Finally, for the three states that fall outside either list, there is the AFL-CIO page, which has VBRs for several states, including Tennessee, and the Massachusetts VBR [pdf] prepared by the Massachusetts chapter of the League of Women Voters and posted on the website of the Town Clerk of Lexington. Rhode Island? You can look at the Voting FAQs on their general election site, but there is no one single page to print out and take with you to the polls.

The voter rights differ from state to state. Some are universal: if you are disabled, you have the right to have assistance in filling out your ballot, while others are not: you have the right to bring your children into the ballot booth with you. It's also important to know what the I.D. requirements are, although you should be fine if you have a driver's license. (The sociological and political ramifications of requiring a driver's license is a post best left for another day.)

Important reminder: North Dakota has NO registration requirement: you can walk up to the polls with the proper I.D. and vote. In Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Wyoming you can register to vote at the polls tomorrow. In Montana, you can register at county election offices. In New Hampshire, you have to register at the town clerk's office. Maine likewise. But in any case, it is still possible to register and vote in those states if you have not already registered. You can find links to registration information in my "Are You Registered?" post.


Arkansas [pdf]

California

Connecticut [pdf]

District of Columbia

Florida [from Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website]

Hawaii

Iowa [pdf]

Kansas[pdf]

Kentucky

Maine

Michigan [pdf]

Minnesota [pdf] [audio version]

Missouri

Nebraska [pdf]

Nevada [from the Election office site for Douglas County, but applies statewide]

New Jersey [by counties]

New Mexico

Texas

Virginia

Last word on this topic?

VOTE.