Voting as a national.
If voting is a privilege that is afforded to U.S. citizens only, what do we do as nationals if we want to participate in the election of our officials? First of all, we should be removing ourselves from the voter rolls if you registered to vote when you were a U.S. citizen. Then you can begin the process to re-register in the status of a national. We believe it is your choice whether or not you participate in elections, we hope that everyone can and will vote, but ultimately it’s up to you.
This guide outlines the steps for nationals to take part in elections at the local, state, and possibly federal levels. The process has been successfully implemented in one state and may be applicable in other states as well. Once you understand the requirements and have completed the initial three steps towards freedom, they can proceed to fill out a voter registration form and submit it to their state and local election authorities. If you are currently registered as a U.S. citizen, you will need to remove yourself from the voter rolls and re-register as a national.
Step-by-step procedure to become a registered voter as a national
- Previously Noticed
Confirm that your state’s Secretary of State, to include state and local election supervisor, has previously been sent notice of your change of status to a national. This should have been completed in The Remedy, Step Two – Notices. Before beginning this process, wait at least 30 days after the mailing of your notice to your Secretary of State election supervisors, both state and local election supervisor. - Removal from the Voter Registry
If you are already registered to vote in your state as a U.S. citizen, you’ll need to remove yourself from their list. The local voter registration office should have a form that provides a means to request removal from the voter rolls. If not, a written note will suffice, which states: “Please remove me from the voter rolls at this time.” Date and sign it, then submit it to the election office with a copy of your Affidavit of Citizenship Evidence. Ask them to initial your note and date it, then have them make a copy for you and keep it in your files. If they have a form for this, also have them initial it and give you a copy for your records.
The need to remove yourself from the voter rolls only applies to those that are already registered to vote as a U.S. citizen. If you’ve never voted and are not currently registered, then obviously you’ll not have to do this. Don’t worry, when you’re removed from the voter rolls, you will not be permanently removed, you’ll be re-registering as a national.
Note: It is critical that you NOT be registered to vote or participate in an election prior to completing the voter registration form as a national. If you don’t initially remove yourself from the voter rolls (which may still indicate you’re a U.S. citizen) and you subsequently vote in the next election but you’re now a national, you may be risking a substantial fine and jail time. Also, it would be prudent to confirm with the election office that you’ve been removed at this point from the voter rolls. Don’t assume that they did it, follow up and verify it with them. Do not vote in an election if you’re now a national, UNLESS you’ve re-registered to vote and have documentation from your state’s election office that indicates they’re aware of your national political status. - Voter Registration Form
Now you’ll need to re-register in the capacity of a national. Start by completing the Voter Registration Form that you can pick up from the local or state elections office or download and print it from your state’s Secretary of State website.
Complete all the fields on the form electronically, if possible, then print it. You’ll need to add additional information to the form by writing it in. For the example below, see the following completed form for the State of Alabama. Additional handwritten information is highlighted in this example. Do not highlight on the final form.
Additional documents to attach
Submit the following five documents with your completed Voter Registration Form.
2. A copy of your notarized Affidavit of Citizenship Evidence.
3. A copy of the official, statutory definition of a national from the U.S. Department of State, Travel.State.gov website page.
4. A copy of your U.S.A. passport book or passport card.
5. A copy of your Certificate of Live Birth or Birth Certificate. This is proof that you’re an American-born individual.
Voter Registration Affidavit Package Builder
Complete this form to receive a completed voter registration affidavit in your email. We will included a link to a PDF editor if you need to make changes. Also, please review our privacy policy.
Mailing
- Review all of your documents thoroughly to ensure all information is completed appropriately, as illustrated in the previously provided examples.
- Paperclip all documents together, do not use staples.
– Voter registration form
– Voter Registration Affidavit
– Copy of your Affidavit of Citizenship Evidence
– Definition of a National
– Copy of your passport
– Copy of your birth certificate - Complete the address on the envelope with the mailing address provided on the Voter Registration Form and seal the paperclipped documents in the envelope.
- Mail the package via Certified Mail, Receipt Requested. You want to get a signed green card for proof of delivery.
Follow Up
- Contact them by phone, unless they notify you first, but don’t assume they will contact you. Ideally, when you contact them or they contact you, they will indicate that you are now registered to vote. Alternatively, they may contact you to notify you that you cannot vote because you are not eligible. If this is their response, use the opportunity to request that they provide you with the exact reason for rejecting your registration. Take careful notes or record the conversation if you reach them by phone. Request to have them put their reason for rejecting your registration in an email to you or in a letter that you could pick up directly from their office. Also, inquire as to what the process is for an Administrative Appeal to their decision.
- In most states the election office (under the state Secretary of State) will provide the ability to check your voter registration status on their state website. To find this online resource, just navigate to your state’s Secretary of State website and you should find a link to check your voter registration status.
- Additionally, you can also request a certified copy of your voter registration and the attached documents from the voter registrar’s office (supervisor of elections). If it appears that nothing has been reviewed yet or there has not been any movement on a decision regarding your registration, don’t be afraid to persistently contact them by phone and/or email to inquire of the status. Remember, they work for you.
Administrative Appeal
An administrative appeal process varies from state to state, but generally the position that you can take is that inhibiting an individual to vote based on his nationality, is illegal and is considered discrimination. This direction for an administrative appeal is a recommendation only. The direction that you decide to take is at your discretion.
Contact your Senator
Contact your representative Senator for your region to request assistance. Provide him or her all the documents and explanations of your effort to participate in elections as a national. The challenge in this effort may be that the senator may not be familiar with the national political status.
Here are some questions to think about and discuss with others in the forums:
- Why is voting a privilege for just U.S. citizens and not a right for all Americans?
- Wouldn’t a national be able to vote in at least a local or a state election since nationals owe their allegiance and duties to a state and not the federal government?
- If I can’t participate in an election as a national, can I participate in an election as an Elector?
Confirmation Method
If you want additional verification that your state has received and filed your voter registration documents, you can submit an online public records request on your state’s Secretary of State website to confirm they have your documents on file, which should include a copy of your Affidavit of Citizenship Evidence. Here is a website that connects you directly to your Secretary of State’s website. There, you should find an online form to allow you to request the aforementioned public records request.
https://www.e-secretaryofstate.com
Additionally, you can also check that you are also “active” on your state’s voter rolls. Just remember, you’ll need to complete and submit all the recommended documentation to them indicating your application to vote in the capacity of a national.
https://www.vote411.org/check-registration
Public Record Record Request in Alabama:
An online Public Records Request Form was filled out and submitted on this page:
https://www.sos.alabama.gov/public-records-request-form
Verbiage used in the request form online:
“Please provide copies of previously filed voter registration documentation and any associated or attached documents related to the voter registrations for the requestor (Your Name) that is on file with the Election Division of the (Your State) Secretary of State. This would include documents on file with your agent office at the (Your County, State) Voter Registration Office. The types of documents may include correspondence, completed voter registration applications or any other associated documents related to the requester and the (Your State) Secretary of State, Elections Division. Please only provide the described documents dated between mm/dd/yy and mm/dd/yy. Thank you.”
It took several weeks for them to reply, but copies of the completed application, affidavit of citizenship evidence and other documents submitted, were recieved back by mail. It comfirmed the documents were filed and acknowledged. The acknowledgement of successfully being registered to vote in the capacity of a national was verified due to the signature or intials on the Affidavit of Citizenship Evidence and all the other documents by the Supervisor of Voter Registration and staff.
See copy of redacted document below that illustrates what was recieved back from the Supervisor of Voter Registration office.
CHECK YOUR VOTING STATUS
Registration Information
Confirm your registration status, ballot status, polling location, and address.
Visit this page to check your voting status: https://www.vote411.org/check-registration