(a) Each designated Customer Service Area shall assign at least one eligible person within that agency to serve as coordinator for the policy set forth in this Chapter. The designated person shall be trained as necessary to insure effective compliance with applicable laws and the purposes of this Chapter.
(b) Designated Customer Service Areas shall provide an opportunity to register to vote or update voter registration information to all eligible persons together with applications for services, renewal or recertification for services and change of address relating to such services.
(c) Designated agency staff shall provide assistance in voter registration.
(d) Every designated Customer Service Area shall distribute to its applicants, prior to or in conjunction with distributing a voter registration application, a form approved by the Director of Law that substantially includes all of the following:
(i) The question, "Do you want to register to vote or update your current voter registration?" --followed by boxes for the applicant to indicate whether the applicant would like to register or decline to register to vote, and the statement, highlighted in bold print, "If you do not check either box, you will be considered to have decided not to register to vote at this time.";
(ii) If the agency provides public assistance, the statement, "Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.";
(iii) The statement, "If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private.";
(iv) The statement, "If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint with the prosecuting attorney of your county or with the secretary of state."
(v) The statement, "Only U.S. citizens can register to vote. Green card holders are not U.S. citizens. If you are not a U.S. citizen, registering to vote may result in your deportation."
(e) Designated Customer Service Areas shall accept from any resident of Toledo completed voter registration applications, voter registration change of residence forms, and voter registration change of name forms, regardless of whether the application or form was distributed by the designated agency, for transmittal to the office of the Lucas County Board of Elections. The Human Relations Commission or its designee shall establish a method by which the voter registration applications and other voter registration forms are transmitted to the board of elections within five days after being accepted by the Designated Customer Service Area.
(f) Provide language assistance as regards voter registration by persons with limited English proficiency, pursuant to federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and existing Executive Orders. Such language assistance shall at minimum apply to the top three languages besides English spoken by the population of Toledo based on United States Census data, and include translated voter registration applications, informational and promotional material, and translation assistance.
(Ord. 246-18. Passed 7-17-18.)