Welcome. Before you talk to a single voter, we want you to understand what this organisation does and, more importantly, what it does not do.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to…
- Describe the volunteer role in one sentence
- Locate the help channels
- Understand how the certificate is earned
What a volunteer actually does
A volunteer is a navigator, not a lawyer and not an advocate in the legal sense. You help a voter work out which identification their state accepts, what underlying documents they will need to obtain it, and what it will cost. You then help them build a plan.
That is the whole job. It is small, it is concrete, and done well it is the difference between a ballot cast and a ballot lost.
- We do explain requirements, help gather documents, arrange rides, and cover fees where funds allow.
- We do not give legal advice, fill in forms on a voter’s behalf, or tell anyone how to vote.
- We never ask about party affiliation, immigration status, or criminal history unless the voter raises it first.
How this course is structured
Twelve lessons across four modules. Most lessons end in a short quiz; you need 70% to pass, and you may retake any quiz as many times as you like.
| Module | Lessons | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Orientation & Ground Rules | 3 | Role, boundaries, safety |
| 2. Understanding ID Requirements | 3 | Law, categories, exceptions |
| 3. Working With Voters | 3 | Intake, empathy, difficult cases |
| 4. Documentation & Follow-Through | 3 | Records, hand-off, closing a case |
Getting help
You will never be the last line of defence. Every case can be escalated.
The one rule
If you are unsure, escalate. Nobody has ever been criticised for asking. Volunteers have been removed for guessing.
What if a voter asks me something I cannot answer?
Say so plainly: “I don’t know, but I will find out.’’ Then escalate to a state lead. Guessing is the one unrecoverable mistake — a voter who acts on wrong information may lose their vote entirely.
Key takeaways
- You are a navigator, not a lawyer
- Escalate rather than guess
- Quizzes need 70% and can be retaken