HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7224 I I
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7224 p.1
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s To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 13, 1987
000, X Subject: PROPOSED VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM
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INTRODUCTION
Voter participation in the United States is decreasing at alarming rates,
with only about half of all eligible citizens currently voting in major
elections. In the 1986 election, voter turnout was the lowest since 1942 and
the third lowest in U.S. history. Many people believe that low voter
participation is a result of complicated registration procedures which, in
effect, disfranchise large segments of the American population. Concerned
groups have organized to push for more aggressive voter registration
initiatives at the state and local levels. As a result, many state and local
governments have taken steps to implement various voter registration
programs, and the success of these efforts is evident in increased voter
turnout in these areas.
The National League of Cities has recognized the need for increased voter
registration and has joined with a number of state and local governments in
resolving to support active voter registration efforts. In accordance with
the City Council 's resolution, the following voter registration program is
proposed today.
op` PURPOSE
The purpose of this program is to make the voter registration process more
accessible to citizens. Toward this end, the program seeks to make
registration opportunities a routine part of citizen-staff interaction.
IMPLEMENTATION
Each department head in departments where citizen contact is a routine part
of daily business will be asked to designate one employee to serve as a
deputy registrar. In areas of heavy citizen contact or where a facility is
open during extended hours, it may be necessary to designate more than one
employee to ensure that demand can be met or that all shifts can be covered.
The designated employee(s) will be trained to assist citizens in proper
registration. All other employees who deal directly with citizens in routine
transactions will be instructed to ask citizens if they are registered, the
employee should offer the citizen the opportunity to register at that time.
Citizens desiring assistance should be referred to the deputy registrar.
It is important that all employees who participate in this program do so
voluntarily, as the program's success will depend largely upon the manner in
which employees present this additional service.
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7224 p-2 .
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 13, 1987
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Subject: PROPOSED VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM
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At all times, voter registration assistance should be absolutely
nonpartisan. At no time should city employees discuss actual candidates or
issues during the registration process. Also, at no time should citizens be
led to believe that receipt of city services is contingent upon being
registered to vote.
It usually takes about one minute to complete a voter registration card;
therefore, serving as a deputy registrar should not interfere with an
employee's regular duties, especially since not everyone will require
assistance.
Training and deputizing of registrars will be conducted by the Tarrant County
Elections Administrator. The training takes less than one hour and can be
conducted at the Municipal Building or other city facilities as required.
All voter registration cards and related supplies will be furnished by the
Tarrant County Elections Administrator.
COORDINATION AND MONITORING
The Fort Worth Voter Registration Program will be coordinated by the City
Manager's Office. The city manager's designated representative will be
responsible for scheduling training sessions for deputy registrars and for
assisting with program initiation. In addition, this representative will
monitor the program and will serve as liaison between the city and the
Tarrant County Elections Administrator.
To help assess the program's effectiveness, each deputy registrar will submit
a weekly report indicating the number of successful , daily registrations
along with the completed registration cards (see attached form). This
information will aid the city manager's representative in making any
necessary program adjustments.
If additional information is required, it will be provided upon request.
6
Douglas Harman
City Manager
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Attachment
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM
WEEKLY REPORT
Your Name
Position
Department
Week of t o , 19
(month/day) most day
Daily counts of completed forms:
- Monday
- Tuesday
Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
Weekly Total
Please attach completed forms and return to , City
Manager's Office.
Any problems, observations, comments?
Signature