WOBURN - If the 2000 Presidential Election proved anything, it's that every vote counts.

Toward that end, the City Clerk's office is notifying residents who turn 18 that they are eligible to vote this fall.

The clerk's office last month sent out 22 letters to residents who turned 18 in July, along with mail-in voter registration cards. Eight of the recipients responded and are thus able to vote in both the state primary on Sept. 14 and the general election on Nov. 2.

Mailings to prospective voters who turn 18 in August are "just going out" this week, according to City Clerk William Campbell. Residents who become of voting age this month have less time to reply than their July predecessors, if they want to vote in the state primary, as the registration deadline is Aug. 25. The deadline to register for the General Election is Oct. 13.

According to Campbell, the idea for notifying 18-year-olds of their voting eligibility was borrowed from Concord Town Clerk Anita Tekle, who began the practice in that community about eight years ago.

"I figured it might be a good year to start because this is a Presidential election year," said Campbell.

Obtaining information on residents who turn 18 isn't as complicated as it may seem, Campbell noted. The clerk's office has a record from census forms, and can enter into a data base a date range for anyone who turns 18 during a given time period. The data base spits out a "birthday list," and the clerk's office mails out a voter registration form to anyone on it.

An excerpt from the accompanying letter from the clerk reads as follows:

"Your voice will now be heard as our community meets to vote for all public offices, from President of the United States to your own Ward Alderman.

"You will also have the right to vote on important policy matters as ballot questions and initiative petitions appear from time-to-time."

Of course, the clerk will also accept voter registration forms from qualified residents who may have celebrated their 18th birthday some time ago.

In keeping with the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, voter registration forms are available at most public buildings (including the library, and the police station), in both English and Spanish at some locations.

Campbell noted that anyone who registers by mail must present a valid form of identification when he or she goes to the polls. Acceptable forms of identification include but are not limited to: a driver's license, passport or government ID card.

Those who register by mail can avoid this step by including a copy of their photo ID with their voter registration form.

Another way HAVA has made voting easier is by allowing "out-of-town" registrations, Campbell said. For instance, someone who works in Woburn but lives in Brookline would be able to register at Woburn City Hall. Campbell would send a copy of the application by fax and then by mail to Brookline Town Hall, where the voter would then be registered.

Unenrolled voters will also have an easier time of it when they cast their ballots in the September primary. Unenrolled voters are allowed to pick a ballot from one of the political parties (Democrat, Republican, Green, etc.). Under the previous format, they were then enrolled in that party, unless they subsequently filled out a form that allowed them to revert to unenrolled status.

Starting in September, unenrolled voters will no longer have to fill out the form, and instead will automatically revert to their unaffiliated status.

Anyone with voter registration questions may call the City Clerk's office at 781-932-4450; the Secretary of State's office at 1-800-462-VOTE; or visit the Secretary of State's Elections Division website at www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm.