National Voter Registration Act

General Information for Armed Forces Recruiting Offices
as Voter Registration Agencies

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, requires that individuals be given the opportunity to complete a voter registration form or to change their voter registration data when applying for or receiving services or assistance at any office designated as a voter registration agency. All Recruiting Offices of the Armed Forces are designated as voter registration agencies. All personnel assigned to duty at Recruiting Offices for the Armed Forces shall be trained and capable of providing these services or assistance.

Each recruiter in a Recruiting Office of the Armed Forces during the course of interviewing or providing assistance or any service to a prospective enlistee shall:

• Provide to each prospective enlistee the Voter Registration Information Form (DD 2645) and National Voter Registration Form and provide assistance in completing the form unless the applicant refuses such assistance.
• Transmit all completed National Voter Registration Forms in a timely manner to the appropriate state official. Forms are not to be sent to the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
• Provide to each eligible citizen or prospective enlistee, who does not decline to register to vote, the same degree of assistance for the completion of the registration application form as is provided by the office for the completion of its own forms; i.e., application for enlistment, unless the person refuses such assistance.
• Maintain statistical information on voter registration assistance in the recommended format provided at www.fvap.gov/nvra/recruiter-registration-summary.pdf.
• Maintain records pertaining to voter registration assistance or activities for a minimum of two years, specifically retention of the Voter Registration Information Form, DD 2645.

An active duty or reserve member of the Armed Forces or employee of a DoD Component who provides service or assistance as described above shall not:

• Seek to influence an applicant’s political preference or party registration.
• Display any such political preference or party allegiance.
• Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to discourage the applicant from registering to vote.
• Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits. No information relating to a declination to register to vote in connection with an application made at a Recruiting Office of the Armed Forces may be used for any purpose other than voter registration.

The senior person at each Recruiting Office of the Armed Forces shall ensure the following services are available to all eligible citizens who enter the Recruiting Office.

• Distribution of the National Voter Registration Form and the Voter Registration Information Form (DD 2645).
• Assistance to prospective enlistees and citizens in completing the National Voter Registration Form, unless the citizen refuses such assistance.
• Acceptance of completed National Voter Registration Form for transmittal to the appropriate state election official. Forms are not to be sent to the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

The senior person at each Recruiting Office shall also ensure:

• All National Voter Registration Forms are transmitted by the deadline specified and to the addressee specified for the state in which the individual has applied for voter registration. Addresses and state deadlines are listed in each state section of National Voter Registration Form. Forms are not to be sent to the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
• A compilation of statistical information will be maintained concerning voter registration assistance provided. A recommended format for the compilation of this statistical information is provided at [hyperlink PDF-Recruiter Registration Summary]. The names of persons applying or declining to register to vote may be used only for voter registration purposes and may not be released for any other purpose.

Any U. S. citizen who wishes to apply for voter registration, or apply to change their voter registration data, may do so at an Armed Forces Recruiting Office will be asked to fill out two forms:

1. Voter Registration Information Form (DD 2645). This form simply records that a citizen has been asked if they are currently registered to vote, or would like to apply for voter registration at that time. The DD 2645 should be printed out and duplicated for local use.
2. National Voter Registration Form. This form is the application for voter registration or change of voter registration data and should be printed out and duplicated for local use. Once completed, Armed Forces Recruiters assisting citizens will mail this form to the appropriate state election official. This form should not be sent to the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

U.S. citizens who live or have an address within the United States, can use the National Voter Registration Form to:

• Register to vote in their state,
• Report a change of name to their voter registration office,
• Report a change of address to their voter registration office, or
• Register with a political party.

The National Voter Registration Form should not be used by citizens living outside the United States and its territories or by members of the military stationed away from home. These citizens should use the Federal Post Card Application (SF-76) available at military bases, American embassies, consular offices, or online at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.pdf.