POLICY STATEMENT.

It is the guiding principal of the Division of Veterans Healthcare Services (DVHS) to ensure that residents in the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes (VMH) have the opportunity, to the fullest extent the resident is able, to participate in and exercise their right to vote in the elections of their choice.

PURPOSE.

To ensure that those individuals applying for admission to a New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home, and veterans home residents, are afforded the opportunity to register to vote and provided opportunities to vote in elections of their choice.

PROCEDURE.

A. New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes

1. The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes shall encourage and/or assist residents in exercising their right to vote, ensuring competent residents are afforded the opportunity to register to vote and take part in the elections of their choice.

B. Department of Social Services

1. During the Admission Interview, the resident will be asked if he or she is interested in voting and would like to be registered to vote.  If interested, a notation will be made on the Social History Form.  The resident will be asked to fill out and sign a Voter Registration Form.  A determination will also be made as to whether an Absentee Ballot is needed.  Residents will be assisted with Absentee Ballots, as requested.

2. Residing residents who have not registered to vote will be given the opportunity to register. A determination will also be made as to whether an Absentee Ballot will be needed, and the resident will be assisted to complete this, as needed.

3. Copies of the completed Voter Registration Form will be made and placed in the resident’s file.

4. Upon request, Voter Registration Forms will be supplied to any resident of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes.

C. The Voting Process

1.   In those VMHs that serve as voting / polling places for the general public, the resident     may vote at the VMH. The resident may also utilize an absentee ballot.

2. In those VMHs that do not serve as a voting / polling place for the general public, all the residents who wish to vote will utilize an absentee ballot to vote.

3.  Assistance in the voting process will be provided to all residents according to their needs, but in no circumstances will VMH staff members actively vote in place of a resident, nor will the confidentiality of a resident’s vote be compromised.

Revised:                     July 1993

Reviewed:  November 1996

Revised:     March 2004

Revised:     July 2007