Washington County Clerk's Office
TEST YOUR VOTER KNOWLEDGE
VOTER REGISTRATION QUESTIONS1 You only have to register to Vote once. It will last your whole lifetime.
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. You must re-register to Vote any time you move, change party affiliation or change your name.
2 There are 78 Precincts in Washington County.
a. True
b. False
Answer: TRUE. And be prepared for more to come! Once a year, Utah Law states that we must split precincts that have more than 1250 active voters.
3 I have moved since the last election. I don't need to re-register to Vote, because I live I the same area.
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. Your address needs to match our files, and you will be voting improperly. We have 4 House Districts and 2 Senate Districts in Washington County. We want you to vote for the proper candidate and we want your vote to count! Please re-register and update your address.
4 I have married since the last election. I do need to re-register to Vote.
a. True
b. False
Answer: TRUE. Your name and signature are different than our files. You do need to re-register so we can count your vote.
5 I want to affiliate with a Political Party. I can just call to have it changed.
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. We cannot change anything without a completed and signed form. It protects you the Voter, and us the County Employee. NOTE: Any Party Affiliation must be done NO LATER than 30 days before the next Election.
6 One of my children will turn 18 on the next Election Day. They can't register to Vote.
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. If a voter turns 18 on or before the next Election Day he or she can register to Vote before their birthday. Then they of course can Vote on their birthday. We would like to turn the first time voter into a lifetime voter! Please help your son or daughter get to the polls!
7 I need to mail my Voter Registration. I don't have to hurry because they will register me anytime.
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. There are deadlines for Voter Registrations. If you send it BY MAIL it must be postmarked no later than 30 days before the next Election. If you register at the DMV you must do so no later than 30 days before the next Election. If you register in person or drop off forms at the County Clerk's office, you must do so no later than 14 days before the nest Election. NOTE: Party Affiliation deadline is 30 before the next Election.
8 UNA on my voter information card stands for (Undisturbed Nap Association)
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. It is Unaffiliated. This means that you have marked that you have no political party preference and that you have chosen not to be connected with ANY political party or that portion of the form was left blank. CON means you have chosen to belong to the Constitution Party. DEM means you have chosen to belong to the Democratic Party. REP means that you have chosen to belong to the Republican Party. IND means that you have chosen to belong to the Independent Party. (Independent is a Political Party and does not mean that your choice is independent). AMR means that you have chosen to belong to the American Party. PER means that you have chosen to belong to the Personal Choice Party. (Personal Choice is a political party and it does not mean that you vote for your personal choice.)
9 I have moved, but I can go back to my old Precinct and Vote. The poll workers know me there.
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. Your poll workers want you to go to the proper precinct to Vote. They should direct you to your new precinct. We want your vote to count, so call us before you go to the Polls.
10 Closed Primaries are confusing!
a. True
b. False
Answer: TRUE. But, Closed Primaries are an important part for the Primary Election process. They are needed to choose the strongest candidate from each participating Party, to go forward into the General Election. Closed Primaries are done by Political Party. And by doing so, the Political Parties are able to choose selected groups of Voters to vote for their candidates.
So, for example for the Western States Primary coming up in February 5, 2008, the Parties that will have candidates are the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Constitution Party will not have any candidates. So we will have 2 Ballots.
The Republican Party will take the Voter's who are registered as Republican. (REP) If you are any other affiliation, UNA, IND, DEM, PER, AMRÉetc. and you wish to vote Republican, you will need to change your Party Affiliation NO LATER than 30 days BEFORE the Election.
The Democratic Party will take Voter's who are registered as Democratic (DEM) or Unaffiliated. (UNA) NOTE: If you are UNA and want to vote the Democratic Ballot you will need to change your Party Affiliation NO LATER than 30 days before the Election, or you can affiliate AT THE POLLS.
11 If I vote on a Provisional Ballot my Vote won't count.
a. True
b. False
Answer: FALSE. Provisional Ballots are given to Voters whose names do not appear in the Official Register. There are many reasons for this. Most commonly Voters have moved to a different home and have forgotten to re-register, Voters sometimes have married, so their name is different, some have never been registered and some Voters have been removed for lack of voting activity. We try very hard to identify where the Voter was last registered and if we find this, the vote is counted. About 90 percent of the last Elections Provisional Ballots where counted. Then we will register the Voter from the Provisional Ballot form, so they will be on the Official Register for the next Election.
12 Do I need to show and ID and proof of residency when I go to vote?
a. True
b. False
Answer: TRUE. If you have registered to Vote By Mail, or did not show and ID in the County Clerk's office, you may be required to show and ID and Proof of residency at the Polls. Photo Identification is a State issued Driver's License, State issued ID, Military ID or a Passport. Proof of residency is something with your name and current address, bills, checkbooks, rental agreements, insurance documents...etc.
NOTE: Taking a photo ID will help the Poll Worker find you on Election Day. A photo ID is REQUIRED for EARLY voting.
13 The Washington County Clerk's Office will help me if I have any other questions.
a. True
b. False
Answer: TRUE. We would like to hear from you if you need any help. You can get forms from our office or you can print them online from www.elections.utah.gov You can contact us by phone at 435-634-5712 or email elections@washco.utah.gov
14 The Washington County Clerk's Office would like to see everyone's vote count on Election Day!
a. True
b. False
Answer: TRUE. WE WANT EVERY VOTE TO COUNT!!!