Do-It-Yourself: Holding a Voter Registration Drive
- Call your local Town Clerk or State Election Division (MA (617) 727-2828). Be prepared for this call with the following information:
- your name
- the group (if any) you are working with
- when the drive will be held
- where the drive will be held
- approximately how many Voter Registration Forms you will need (any alternate languages)
TIP: This is a great opportunity to get questions you have about running a drive answered. The officials are generally very willing to help you accomplish this.
- The official will tell you to
contact the location of the drive to confirm that this is okay.
Some suggestions include the local high school during ‘Senior Week’ or at lunches
If you are going to need more than 25 forms, send a letter, fax, or email
email is easiest and quickest elections@sec.state.ma.us
Use the sample email, or just be sure to include the following information:
- Name
- Date
- Place
- Languages
- Type (national/absentee)
- Mailing address to send them
- Get some volunteers together to help you with advertising and working the Drive
- ADVERTISE (local newspapers, cable stations, school bulletins, school websites, posters, flyers)
- The day of the drive! Have your materials, posters and forms available on a table. Make sure you (and your volunteers!) are ready for questions about the form and other things. Do not forget pens! Just a hint: The voter registration form will ask for a 9 digit zip code. Most people only know their 5 digit code. The entire code will be on a person’s drivers license.
- After the drive, you are responsible for transporting ALL REGISTRATION FORMS to the Town Clerk of whatever town each form is registered for. This must be done in an organized and timely manner, preferably not beyond one week of the drive.