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1. Can I hand out voter registration applications without being deputized?

Yes. Anyone can hand out blank application forms to voters for the voters to fill out and mail in themselves. If this is all you want to do, you do not have to be a volunteer deputy registrar. Also, if you are already a deputy registrar in one county, you can hand out blank forms in other counties where you are not a deputy. It is the voter’s handing the application back to you to review and to deliver to the registrar that triggers the requirement to be an authorized deputy registrar.

2. As a Williamson County Volunteer Deputy Registrar can I accept applications for voters living in other counties?

No. Volunteer deputy registrar status is conferred on a county-by-county basis. To accept applications for Y or Z counties, you would have to become a volunteer deputy registrar for those counties. You could certainly give applications to the attendees from County Y and County Z and direct them to mail the application to the appropriate county voter registrar’s office. Under Section 13.044 of the Texas Election Code, a person commits a Class C misdemeanor by acting as a deputy registrar when he or she does not have an effective appointment as a deputy registrar.

3. What if someone submits an application but is already registered to vote?

You may wish to advise the person that the new application form will be treated as an update if the old registration is in the same county and the voter is providing new information. If the person moved to a new county, he or she will need to register in the new county.

4. May I photocopy the applications that I accept?

No. Section 13.004(c-1) of the Texas Election Code requires the county voter registrar to ensure that certain information, such as the telephone number, on a registration application is redacted from photocopies of voter registration applications from her office. In our opinion, this means that a photocopy of an application must come directly from the county voter registrar’s office, so that she may ensure the required information has been blacked out or otherwise obscured. With that said, we believe that a volunteer deputy registrar may photocopy the receipt. You may also copy the relevant information from the application in writing just as you would be able to do if you went to the registrar’s office and pulled a copy of the original application.

5. Can I designate someone to return voter registrations applications in my place?

No. There are two methods for a volunteer deputy registrar to submit applications to the county voter registrar. First, the applications may be submitted by personal delivery by the deputy registrar. Second, the deputy registrar may give his or her applications to another volunteer deputy registrar for personal delivery to the county voter registrar.

6. Is there a minimum age to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar?

Yes. A person must be at least 18 years of age to become a volunteer deputy registrar.

7. What happens if I fail to deliver completed applications on time?

Submit them to the county voter registrar as soon as possible. Under the law, the voter’s registration is not impacted by your late delivery to the registrar. However, you should deliver them as soon as possible. Further delay will create problems in getting the lists ready in time for early voting and election day. The registration process cannot be completed until you deliver the application. The registration is still effective and the voter still receives the effective date of submission to you.

8. As a Volunteer Deputy Registrar can I appoint others to be Volunteer Deputy Registrars?

No. Each volunteer deputy registrar must be appointed directly by the county voter registrar or that registrar’s deputy in the voter registrar’s office.

9. I am a candidate. Am I eligible to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar?

Yes. There is no prohibition against a candidate or a campaign worker serving as a deputy registrar, as long as they have been officially appointed as a volunteer deputy registrar. Similarly, there is no prohibition against a deputy registrar registering voters at a campaign rally or event. While working a rally or public event, we believe a volunteer deputy registrar should offer registration to anyone who requests it.

10. Is it possible to become a statewide Volunteer Deputy Registrar?

No. Volunteer deputy registrar appointments are made on a county-by-county basis. Section 13.032 of the Code provides that a county may not refuse to appoint a resident of the county as a deputy registrar. A voter registrar may not refuse to appoint a volunteer deputy registrar on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin or ancestry.

11. I am currently a Volunteer Deputy Registrar in another county, how can I use reciprocity to become a Williamson County Volunteer Deputy Registrar?

You can get reciprocal VDR certification either in-person at the Elections Department or online.

In-person:

Bring your VDR Certificate of Appointment from another Texas county to the Elections Department office at 301 SE Inner Loop Georgetown, TX 78626. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
We will review your certificate and ask you to complete a Williamson County VDR Certificate of Appointment.

Online:

Please complete the VDR Appointment Request form.

Email the completed Appointment Request form and your VDR Certificate of Appointment from another Texas county to Team Training

We will review the forms and send a link you can use to complete the Williamson County VDR Certificate of Appointment

After you have completed your portion of the Williamson County VDR Certificate of Appointment we will assign a VDR number and send the final VDR Certificate of Appointment
Please allow 1 to 3 days for this process.