This is why voters showing identification at the polls is so important. Current law allows Registrars of voters to change a voters status to ‘inactive’ if we suspect that a voter has either moved, died, or if we can not confirm their residence. Any voter can be reinstated by showing identification or proof of residency when they vote. This is a powerfull tool in ‘cleaning’ the files, yet is not intended as to be intimidating or restrictive.

Voter response to the annual canvass is the best way to minimize this problem. Every town conducts a canvass of voters each spring which entails verifying continued residency and address through several methods. The canvass is conducted through either the NCOA (National Chjange of Address) system of the US Post Office, or by locally mailing returnable cards, or by canvassing neighborhoods, or by a combination of the above. If cards are returned undeliverable by the post office, a phone follow-up is the usual practice. If the Registrar has evidence that a voter has moved or is no longer at an address (Deceased?), than a returnable notice of confirmation is mailed to the voter. If this is either returned or is unanswered, then the voter is changed to an inactive status for four years or until corrective information is available.

Getting back to the unavailabillity of death certificates, out of state deaths are slow to be reported if at all. resources include Death certificates, family, probate records, and obituaries. State deatrh recoprds are not definative in that they rely on filings from the Town Clerks, who themselves are at the mercy of getting the certificates.

While we can tighten up the process, there is no easy or complete solution.