Alabama Agrees to Make Voter Registration Easier After DOJ Threatens to Sue

By Erin Ferns Lee November 24, 2015
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Photo: brownpau via Creative Commons
Photo: brownpau via Creative Commons

As we reported last month, Alabama has received negative attention for its actions against voters, particularly those in low-income communities. After the Justice Department found the state to be in violation of federal voter registration law—and threatened to sue—the state now agrees to work toward making voter registration accessible to its citizens.

Colorlines reports:

“An investigation into Alabama’s registration practices found that it was in violation of Section 5 of the NVRA, which requires states to provide citizens with opportunities to register for federal elections when they apply for or renew their driver’s licenses and other state IDs. Alabama’s applications currently do not serve that dual purpose, nor do address changes roll over to registration, which is also required under the NVRA.

“Per the settlement, Alabama will integrate voter registration into all of its in-person and online ID and driver’s license applications, renewals and change-of-address forms. The state will also contact all eligible voters who are not currently registered at the address listed on their IDs to give them a chance to register. And while the electronic system is being updated to include voter registration, the state agreed to implement an interim paper-based procedure.”

“The interim paper-based procedure is particularly interesting as it directs DMV employees to use a person’s voter registration application information to complete driver’s license or ID applications.”

“It’s a creative way of doing the process and one that I haven’t seen before,” says Project Vote Election Counsel Michelle Rupp, “I hope it will help more people make it through the voter registration process successfully, and that it will re-enforce the importance of voter registration responsibilities for the DMV employees.”

Project Vote and our partners work to ensure the landmark voter registration law is enforced at motor vehicles offices and other government agencies. Learn about our Motor Voter work and government agency voter registration work at www.projectvote.org.