Q: What is a Voter Registration Drive (VRD)?
A: A VRD occurs when two or more persons distribute and collect voter registration applications for delivery to a county clerk and recorder.

Q: Do I have to register to be a VRD?
A: Yes. You must register with Secretary of State.

Q: Why do I have to register to do a Voter Registration Drive? I’m trying to perform a service to the community.
A: Voter Registration Drives are important to the process, and their work for the public is admirable. In the months leading up to the 2004 General Election, there was a good deal of concern by election officials and the public about the mishandling of voter registration applications by voter registration drives. We listened to those concerns and developed processes that will protect the voters. Registering your VRD will help you to protect the voters you will register to vote.

Q: How do I register with the Secretary of State?
A: You must register for training and complete a Voter Registration Drive Statement of Intent. The Statement of Intent is available on the Secretary of State web site at http://www.elections.colorado.gov/Default.aspx?PageMenuID=1456.
Please contact cesiah.gomez@sos.state.co.us or you may call the office at (303) 894-2200 x6313 to register for training.

Q: Voter Registration Drive Statement of Intent asks for a VRD Organizer, who is that?
A: A VRD Organizer is a person who organizes a Voter Registration Drive in the State of Colorado.

Q: Voter Registration Drive Statement of Intent asks for a VRD Agent, who is that?
A: The agent is the VRD organizer’s representative in the State of Colorado and must be a resident of the State of Colorado.

Q: I filled out and returned the Voter Registration Drive Statement of Intent, is that all I have to do?
A: No. The VRD Organizer must complete mandatory training to ensure that all circulators receive the same training provided by the Secretary of State PRIOR to circulating any voter registration forms. The purpose of this training is to ensure that VRD organizers and circulators understand the importance and proper methods of handling citizen applications.

Q: What does this mandatory training cost?
A: There is no cost to attend.

Q: When and where is this mandatory training held?
A: Please contact cesiah.gomez@sos.state.co.us or 303-894-2200 x 6313 to schedule training.

Q: Can I just show up for the training?
A: No. You must register for the training. If no one has registered for a class at least 24 hours in advance, training will not be held. If you just show up, you may be surprised to find that the class is not being held.

Q: What does this mandatory training entail?
A: Our trainers will ensure that you understand how the VRD process works, how circulators may and may not be paid for their work, and confirm that you, the organizer, are aware of and understand all the penalties in the law relating to voter registration drives. You will be provided with an opportunity to ask questions and have them answered.

You will not receive any registration drive applications nor will you be assigned a Voter Registration Drive number until you complete this training.

Q: What is the Voter Registration Drive number?
A: A unique number will be assigned to each VRD upon verification that the organization meets the requirements of C.R.S. 1-2-701 and Rule 44. You are not authorized to commence your voter registration drive prior to completing the required training and receiving this unique number. Once the VRD number is issued, the name of your organization and your organization’s contact person will be posted on the SOS website as an approved VRD.

Q: How long does my VRD Number stay in effect? Does it expire?
A: This VRD number is valid until December 31st of the calendar year in which it was approved.

Q: Is the Training Acknowledgement form provided by the Secretary of State’s office the only form allowed for use to track voter registration drive training?
A: No. Pursuant to Rule 44.2.2, voter registration drive organizers are required to obtain and maintain on file signed verifications "from each circulator that he or she will adhere to all the requirements of the Secretary of State election rules and the Colorado Revised Statutes pertaining to elections, and that they are aware of the penalties associated with the mishandling of voter registration application forms.” Voter registration drives are free to develop the forms and/or tracking methods they find best to meet this requirement, including reproducing the form provided by the Secretary of State’s office.

Q: How does the VRD Voter Registration Application differ from the standard Voter Registration Application?
A: The VRD applications have a tear off receipt, which the applicant retains.

Q: How do I obtain the VRD Voter Registration Application form?
A: You may obtain the forms by request from the Secretary of State’s office (or from the office of the county clerk and recorder where you intend to conduct your voter registration drive). You may request the number of forms you estimate that you will need for your drive. However, please remember that the forms are produced using taxpayer dollars. Please plan to request a realistic number of forms to minimize wasting unused forms.

Q: Can’t I just photocopy the forms like I used to?
A: You may not copy or reproduce the form in any way.

Q: What about using the National Voter Registration Form I’ve seen on sites like Rock the Vote?
A: You may use the national form in Colorado for VRDs; however a VRD must still register with the Colorado Secretary of State's office and complete the mandatory VRD training. In addition, VRDs remain subject to the penalty provisions of C.R.S. 1-2-703.

Q: What if the elector does not know or does not specify on the voter registration drive application in which county he/she resides?
A: Pursuant to § 1-2-702(2), C.R.S., a voter registration drive is mandated to deliver a voter registration application to the clerk and recorder of the county in which the elector resides. Consequently, it is incumbent upon the voter registration drive to determine the county of residence of the elector, based on the elector’s address, prior to forwarding the application to a county clerk.

Q: How can I find out if the person who asked for my registration information is a legitimate VRD?
A: The Secretary of State web site, http://www.sos.state.co.us will contain a list of approved VRDs in the state. You can check there for the most current list of approved VRDs.

Q: What if an organization is not a voter registration drive, and someone returns a voter registration application to that organization?
A: The organization may choose not to accept the voter registration application and mayinstruct the elector to send the application to his/her county clerk and recorder. In the event that the organization does accept the application, it can forward it to the elector’scounty clerk and recorder (preferably) or to the Secretary of State’s office.