Guidelines for Knights of Columbus Voter Registration Program

1. Guidelines for Knights of Columbus Voter Registration Program

2. Voter Registration Drive 2014 This non-partisan Voter Registration Drive is a joint effort of the PA bishops’ public policy agency, the PA Catholic Conference, and the PA State Council of the Knights of Columbus.

3. Your Role • Knights are first and foremost Catholic citizens who are members of their communities and constituents of their elected officials. • As a citizen, your most effective petition to an elected official is as an individual voter. • As a Knight, you must exemplify your patriotic duty through the practice of charity and unity.

4. Duties of Knights as Faithful Citizens • To become active and informed participants in the political life of your local community. • To register to vote and encourage others to register to vote. • To initiate and participate in robust “get out the vote” efforts to bring voters to the polls in all primary, general, and special elections.

5. Duties of Knights as Faithful Citizens • Brother Knights are allowed to, on their own time and without any KofC-branded merchandise, participate in efforts that support a certain candidate or stance on a ballot measure. • However, when a Brother Knight joins together with his other Brothers in a council or assembly activity, they MAY NOT advocate for a particular candidate or ballot measure. • Remember the Third Degree: partisan politics are not allowed in the Order or in any of its council chambers!

6. Forbidden Activities of Knights as Faithful Citizens • Engaging in activity, in the name of the Knights of Columbus, that seeks to endorse or oppose a candidate or party in a campaign for public office. • Making political statements, in the name of the Knights of Columbus, that seek to endorse or oppose a candidate or party in a campaign for public office.

7. Forbidden Items for Voter Registration Drives • Any material that advocates the victory or defeat of a candidate for political office or the victory or defeat of a ballot measure or referendum (i.e. bumper stickers, posters, web videos, etc.) • Any clothing, when on display or worn by volunteers, that advocates the victory or defeat of a candidate for political office or the victory or defeat of a ballot measure or referendum (i.e. shirt, ball cap, sticker, pin, etc.)

8. A Model Voter Registration Program • A council based in Scranton gains the permission of their pastor to setup a table outside, after Mass, with information on how qualified citizens can register to vote. At the table, they also have information on how to get to the polls and a sign up for parishioners who may need a Knight to help them to the polls on Election Day. • When parishioners approach the table, Knights ask if they are registered to vote. If not, they ask if they would like to register and provide the form. • Brother Knights working the table also check to make sure that parishioners know where their polling place is located and let them sign up for rides to the polls if they need help on Election Day.

9. Examples of Forbidden Voter Registration Programs • A council based in Mechanicsburg sets up a table outside of church after Mass without the pastor’s permission. • When parishioners approach the table after Mass, Knights ask if they are registered to vote and encourage parishioners to register so they can go to the polls and defeat Candidate X. • When a parishioner requests help to the polls on Election Day, a Brother Knight asks for whom they plan to vote and then only offers assistance to those who will be voting for Candidate Y. • The table used by the council is covered in bumper stickers in favor of or against candidates or ballot measures.

10. Preliminary Activities • Thank you for volunteering! • Get in touch with the pastor • Receive his permission for the drive • Discuss dates (preferably in September) and table placement with him, along with your responsibilities • Receive his permission to hang flyers

11. Preliminary Activities • Place posters at strategic locations inside the church • Assemble materials including: • Ballpoints pens • Clipboards • Voter registration forms • Absentee ballot applications • A sign up sheet for those who may need help getting to the polls on November 6 • Several large manila envelopes that can be clasped shut to protect private information once forms are filled out.

12. Preliminary Activities • Smooth out logistics • Secure an adequate number of tables that will fit 3 to 6 people each and at least one volunteer per table. • Decide on a location. Outside is preferred • Review logistics with pastor after you have collected materials

13. Preliminary Activities • Get in touch with volunteers • Collect name and contact information of those who will monitor the tables after each Mass on the designated weekend. • Set a schedule for each Mass & review responsibilities with them, stressing the need to remain non-partisan throughout the process.

14. Voter Registration Weekend • Important Reminders • The drive may not show bias for any party, candidate, issue or voting position • No partisan or campaign materials may be distributed, nor should they be in the vicinity of the voter registration tables • If you do not feel you can abide by these rules, please contact the KOC so another volunteer can be appointed.

15. Voter Registration Weekend • Keep the objective of the weekend neutral and civic-minded • The goal is to help fellow Catholics exercise their duty and privilege to vote. • Volunteers must not discuss issues or candidates during their service time

16. Voter Registration Weekend • Remind celebrant to make pulpit announcement • Greet parishioners as they leave church and invite them to register to vote • Offer parishioners the chance to sign a form if they think they will need help getting to the polls on November 6.

17. Voter Registration Weekend • Check each voter registration form for essential information. If possible, follow up with those who have filled out an incomplete form. • Place completed forms into a sealed envelope so that personal information is not compromised. • After the last Mass, remove registration posters and replace with vote posters • Keep the sign up sheet of those who need transportation on Election Day safe and separate.

18. Duties • Each applicant has the option of returning the registration form to the Board of Elections in person or by mail, or they can give it back to you to return (preferred). • Inform the applicant that (s)he isn’t registered until (s)he receives a Voter Registration Card in the mail. If this is not received in 3 weeks, (s)he should call the BOE.

19. Follow Up • Package completed forms in Priority Mail envelope • Address envelope to county board of elections, you can contact the PA Catholic Conference or visit www.votespa.com if you need this information. • Mail or deliver as soon as possible • Complete report form and return to Pennsylvania Catholic Conference • In late October, contact those who requested help with transportation on Election Day and coordinate transportation.

20. The Form • To register to vote in Pennsylvania, the parishioner must be: • A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election. • A resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which (s)he wants to register and vote for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election. • At least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election. • Once one has registered to vote, one is not required to register again unless a change in residence, name, or political party affiliationoccurs. • Now we will review the Pennsylvania Voter Registration Form, which must be completed in its entirety to be considered valid.

21. Voter Registration Application

23. Voter Registration Application • Encourage registrants to read the directions found on the first page of the form.

24. Box 1: Age and citizenship • Both of these boxes must be marked “yes” for the application to be approved. • If one of them is not marked, tell the applicant that he or she must complete them before proceeding.

25. Box 2: Application use • If an registrant has moved into a different county, this is considered a new registration, not an address change.

26. Box 3a: Name • Select Male (M) for Female (F) • Print full legal name – nicknames are discouraged

27. Box 3b: Driver’s License or ID # • Enter PA Driver’s License Number. The applicant must supply the license number if (s)he has one. • If the applicant does not have a PA driver’s license, they should fill out the last for digits of their social security number. • If they do not have a PA driver’s license or social security number, they can check the final box.

28. Boxes 4a & 4b: Address • Box 4a must be filled out with a physical residential address if one exists. PO Boxes may not be used unless there is no physical address. • While a phone number is not required, it is a quick and easy way for the municipality to contact each applicant if information is missing or incomplete.

29. Box 4c and 5 – Municipality and County • In box 4c, “municipality” refers to city, township or borough. • Box 5 only needs to be filled out if the mailing address is different than the residence address listed earlier in the form.

30. Boxes 6-8: Date of Birth, Race and Previous Registration • Box 7 is optional. • Box 8 applies only if one was registered before under a different name or address.

31. Box 9: Party Affiliation • DO NOT encourage or discourage a registrant from joining any party. • Must be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary election. • Only one box should be checked. • If no party is selected, the registrant will be registered as “no affiliation.”

32. Boxes 10&11: Assistance/Signature • If applicant is unable to sign, the person who assisted with the form must fill out Box 10. • In Box 11, the form must be signed, printed and dated for it to be accepted.

33. Boxes 12 & 13: Voter ID and Assistance • If registrant has applied for registration before and has their Voter ID number available, they can fill in Box 12. • If registrant requires assistance, they must fill out Box 13 and provide a reason.

34. Once Form is Complete • Applicant has the option to take form home to mail or to return to you to mail or deliver. • If given a form, place it directly in an envelope, do not allow personal information to be seen by other applicants. • THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014. • Return all forms as soon as possible to the county voter registration office. Contact information is available via the PCC or at www.votespa.com • Fill out the follow up form provided in your packet and return to the PCC. • Follow up with those who asked for transportation help.