October 12, 1995

MOTOR VOTER REGISTRATION IMPLEMENTED AT LOCAL WIC OFFICES

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Women participating in the WIC program administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health can now register to vote at more than 200 sites around the state.

Beginning in late September, voter registration was offered to women applying for WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) benefits or picking up WIC coupons. Approximately 50,000 needy women a month receive WIC benefits.

As required by the National Voter Registration Act, WIC staff ask clients 18 year of age and older if they are registered to vote at their current address. Anyone not registered can sign up and the form is forwarded to the woman's local election board.

The WIC sites are operated by 90 local WIC agencies, which consist of city or county health departments and not-for-profit social service agencies. Staff were trained in July and August how to register voters and voter registration forms were sent to all WIC agencies in September.

Department staff will monitor compliance with registration requirements through routine site visits.

The Illinois WIC program has a budget of $200 million and serves about 250,000 low-income women and young children a month by providing them with nutrition education and vouchers for foods rich in calcium, iron and protein for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, babies and children up to 5 years of age who are at nutritional risk.

Unlike food stamps that can be used to purchase many kinds of food, food coupons issued to WIC participants are like prescriptions that fit their individual needs. WIC coupons purchase items such as milk, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, juice, beans and iron-fortified cereals. Infants who are not breastfeeding receive iron-fortified formula.

Persons can call the Department's toll-free hotline, 1-800-323-GROW (voice and hearing impaired), for information about the WIC program, the availability of services in their area and voter registration.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments