96-5300. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing; Voter Registration Notice

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 46 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9190-9191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5300]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-3968-N-01]


Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing; 
Voter Registration Notice

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides voter registration guidance to public 
housing agencies, Indian housing authorities, and Resident Management 
Corporations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 7, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 4100, Washington, D.C. 20410. Telephone 
number [phone], TDD [phone]. (These numbers are not toll-
free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose

    The purpose of this Notice is to provide guidance on efforts by 
Public Housing Agencies (``PHAs'') to promote voter registration 
consistent with provisions of the National Voter Registration Act, 42 
U.S.C. 1973gg, in connection with the operation of the Public and 
Indian Housing (``PIH'') including the Section 8 voucher and 
certificate programs.

II. Policy

    It is the policy of HUD that all participants in public housing 
programs, including Section 8 programs, be afforded the opportunity to 
register to vote. Opportunities to provide voter registration 
information to PIH and Section 8 program participants can occur during 
the normal application process, the annual recertification process, or 
when tenants come into the management office for purposes such as 
paying rent or requesting maintenance service.

III. Background

    In the National Voter Registration Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973gg, Congress 
found that the right of citizens to vote is a fundamental right. 
Further, Congress found that it is the duty of the Federal, State, and 
local governments to promote the exercise of that right. The Department 
of Housing and Urban Development recognizes its responsibility to help 
promote voter participation in a non-partisan manner. Accordingly, the 
Department is issuing this notice to provide guidance to Public and 
Indian Housing Authorities on promoting the free exercise of this 
fundamental right.

IV. Permissible Voter Registration Activities by PHAs

    At each PHA, HUD's policy that all participants in PIH and Section 
8 programs be afforded the opportunity to vote may be implemented in 
the following ways:
    a. PHAs are encouraged to include voter-registration applications 
in their program applications and recertification materials.
    b. PHAs are encouraged to apply to States to operate as a voter 
registration agency under the National Voter Registration Act.
    c. PHAs are encouraged to solicit and permit approved non-profit, 
non-partisan organizations that are voter registration agencies to 
provide information and application forms to their tenants and program 
participants on the PHAs' premises.
    d. PHAs can provide mail-in voter-registration applications to 
their residents.
    e. PHAs can also use non-partisan posters to inform residents of 
their right to register to vote and to inform them of places, either on 
the PHA premises or in the local area, where they may go to register to 
vote. PHAs may accept the completed voter registration application 
forms and transmit these forms to the appropriate State election 
official. Completed forms should be transmitted to the appropriate 
State election official on a regular basis.
    f. PHAs are encouraged to provide assistance to tenants seeking to 
understand the voter registration materials or to fill out voter 
registration forms.
    g. PHAs may use Section 8 administrative fees and public housing 
operating subsidies to meet the costs for permissible voter 
registration activities.

V. Impermissible Voter Registration Activities by PHAs

    Since the right to vote should be exercised freely and voluntarily, 
HUD's policy of affording participants in PIH and Section 8 programs 
the opportunity to vote may not involve any act that would:

a. intimidate the participant into voting or registering to vote, or
b. intimidate the participant into voting in a way or registering under 
a party that is not their choice, or
c. suggest that benefits are in any way tied to a participant's voting 
activity, or

[[Page 9191]]

d. give the appearance that the processes of voter registration or 
voting are not voluntary processes.

    Dated: February 27, 1996.
Kevin Emanuel Marchman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Distressed and Troubled Housing 
Recovery.
[FR Doc. 96-5300 Filed 3-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P