Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

MEMORANDUM

TO:

ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

FROM:

Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

RE:

Voter Registration for Regional Center Clients

DATE:

April 23, 2004

I want to vote, what do I have to do?

You have to fill out a voter registration card.

Where do I get a voter registration card?

You can get voter registration cards from the Secretary of State’s office, the county registrar’s office, your regional center, Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI) and many other places.

Are there any rules for registering to vote?

Yes. As long as you meet these conditions, you can register to vote:

  • You are a United States citizen
  • You live in California
  • You are at least 18 years old
  • You are not in prison or on parole for a felony
  • You have not been told by a court that you cannot register to vote

Can I get help from my regional center to register to vote?

Yes. Call your regional center and ask them to help you register to vote. If you are not sure if you can register, your regional center service coordinator can help you figure it out.

Can my service coordinator tell me how to register?

No. The regional center cannot tell you what "party" to pick. They can’t prevent you from registering. They can’t tell you that your services will be cut if you don’t register a certain way.

What if my service coordinator doesn’t want to help me register to vote?

The regional center must help you register to vote. If your service coordinator won’t help you, give the person a copy of the attached "Regional Center Responsibility to Assist Regional Center Clients with Voter Registration".

Also, call Protection & Advocacy Inc. (PAI) at 1-800-776-5746 to tell us if the regional center won’t help you register to vote.