Section 102.21  Voter Registration

a)         As mandated by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, Public Law 103-31, Department staff are required to allow clients the opportunity to register to vote and to assist clients in completing voter registration forms.

b)         An application for assistance is a signed request for AFDC, Food Stamps or Medicaid benefits.  The opportunity to register to vote shall be given at each application for assistance and at each recertification of Food Stamp benefits or other face-to-face redetermination.

c)         The opportunity to register to vote shall be made to all clients, age 18 and over, who have signed the application for AFDC, Food Stamps, Transitional Assistance, Child and Family Assistance or Medicaid benefits and who are present at the eligibility interview.

d)         The Department shall allow each member of the household over the age of 18 years, who must sign the application for public assistance and is present for the eligibility interview, the opportunity to register to vote.  Each individual may decline.

e)         Department staff shall provide the same degree of assistance to each applicant in completing the voter registration form as provided by the Agency with regard to the completion of its own forms, unless the applicant refuses such assistance.

f)         Department staff shall not:

1)         seek to influence an applicant's political preference or party registration;

2)         display any political preference or party allegiance;

3)         make any statement or take any action to discourage an applicant from registering to vote; or

4)         make any statement or take any action to lead an applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register will affect the availability of assistance.

g)         Department staff shall collect completed voter registration forms and forward the forms to the State election official no later than 10 days after the date of acceptance.  Any voter registration form accepted by the Department within five days before the last day of registration for an election shall be transmitted no later than five days after the date of acceptance.

h)         The Department shall keep confidential records of the number of persons choosing to complete a voter registration form.  The Department shall report those numbers to the State Board of Elections.

(Source:  Amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 11955, effective August 13, 1997)