Public Housing Renter-Voter Plan OK’d

Come the next election, hundreds more public-housing tenants may discover that they are registered to vote.

That’s thanks to a new ​“motor voter”-inspired automatic-registration policy approved Tuesday afternoon by the housing authority’s board.

The policy calls for having tenants fill out voter registration forms at each new lease-up or recertification, unless they opt out. Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of New Haven (ECC/HANH) staffers will then bring the forms to the Registrar of Voters office. It’s the housing authority’s equivalent to registering to vote when you conduct a transaction at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

HANH Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton came up with the idea. She noted that many tenants face barriers to registering, beginning with the fact that many don’t own cars.

At its regular meeting Tuesday afternoon HANH’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the policy.

“We’re excited,” DuBois-Walton said as she laid out the plan to the commissioners. ​“The current system makes [registration] a challenge, especially for individuals who experience the challenges of poverty.”

DuBois-Walton said that the policy will be implemented as soon as next month, just as soon as HANH staff receives the required training from the registrar of voters.

Before the vote, in a brief discussion, Commissioner William Kilpatrick asked if the plan raises any issue with the federal government.

“We are registering, not advocating for a candidate,” DuBois-Walton replied. As long as the presentation is nonpartisan, there is no problem, she said. ​“It’s a progressive step to enfranchise our residents.”

Kilpatrick, who applauded the effort, continued to press DuBois-Walton a bit on who would conduct the registration and how it would take place.

The answer was current housing management staff — no additional staff. The forms will be included in the packet of documents being filled out by a new or re-certifying tenant. ​“We’ll help people complete the forms,” DuBois-Walton said, checking citizenship, address and residence, and age. If people are still on parole they cannot register.

Then HANH staff will make sure the documents are delivered to the registrar, she said.

Commissioner Foluke Morris asked if all 2,000-plus HANH residents will be involved.

No, DuBois-Walton replied, not the whole portfolio, just new tenants coming in and as people participate in the required process to re-certify to continuing renting.

Board Chair Erik Clemons pronounced the plan ​“terrific” and asked if DuBois-Walton’s idea was a first.

“As far as we can tell, we are the first housing authority in the nation” to be doing this, she said.

In connection with the proposal, DuBois-Walton offered some fuller answers, in writing for The Independent:

Independent: Where did the idea come from?

KDB: This is my idea to ensure that the voices of our residents who are too often marginalized are heard. I am not aware of any other authorities have done this. It is part of our statewide legislative agenda, however, to have this a requirement for all state funded/financed affordable housing.

Independent: Why the ​“opt out” approach as opposed to a straight choice?

KDB: Currently VR [voter registration] is an opt in system. We are seeking to reverse this. Residents will automatically have the VR card completed at lease up unless they choose not to. This shifts it to an opt out system. The default is registration. Believing in choice, however, if one chooses not to be registered, this gives that option.

Independent: Any exceptions to the proposed policy?

KDB: VR will be included for all new lease ups and to all residents and HCV (Housing Choice Voucher) participants at recertification for those who have turned 18 since we last saw the family.

Independent: Why implement the idea just now?

KDB: Leading up to the election we hosted several voter registration drives. With each one, I thought more and more about how difficult we make things that should be easy. Voting is the right of adult citizens. It should be automatic. As soon as my sons approached age 18, Selective Service information came in the mail. No such thing occurs for voter registration. Why is that? This needs to change. What we are doing is simply a first step toward automatic voter registration in this state and hopefully nationwide.