Motor Vehicle Agencies

Jump-Starting “Motor Voter”

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) became known as the “motor voter” law because Section 5 of the law designated motor vehicle offices as voter registration sites. For 20 years Americans have enjoyed the convenience of registering to vote, or updating their registrations, while conducting other business at the DMV.

MVA-ImageThe NVRA requires that DMVs take specific steps that will make registration extremely convenient for their customers, so that as many eligible Americans as possible will participate in elections. Yet many states DMVs don’t follow these rules. Often through omission rather than articulated policy, they relegate voter registration to a bottom-rung priority, for example, by failing to integrate it into new processes that become available due to technology. One result is that customers conducting online DMV transactions often miss out on the voter registration opportunities that the NVRA mandates they be given.
In short, “motor “voter” is stalling out in many states, and threatening to leave millions of Americans behind.

Project Vote is working with allies to enforce the “motor voter” law across the country, and ensure that states adapt this core voter registration portal to new technologies that have the potential to vastly expand the electorate.

Most Recent / Relevant Items

Advanced Filters and Sorting

71 results returned

Texas Court Rules “Motor Voter” Applies to Online Transactions, Too

Post See all

A court has ruled that the "Motor Voter" law means people using DMV services online must get the same voter registration services as those going in-person. Read more

Memorandum of Understanding on NVRA Compliance – Nevada DMV

Litigation Document See all

Project Vote and partners reached an understanding with Nevada officials to streamline and modernize voter registration opportunities through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Read more

Memorandum of Understanding on NVRA Compliance – Nevada Secretary of State

Litigation Document See all

Project Vote and partners reached an understanding with Nevada officials to streamline and modernize voter registration opportunities through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Read more

Voting Rights Advocates Announce Agreement with State of Nevada to Modernize Voter Registration Opportunities

Press Release See all

Voting rights advocates and Nevada officials announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to streamline and modernize voter registration opportunities through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Read more

Civil Rights Groups Threaten to Sue New York Over Voting Rights Violations

News Item See all

Asian-American and Latino civil rights groups are among those threatening to sue New York state over allegations that its Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) failed to send voter registration applications it received to local election boards. Read more

New Report Explains How “Motor Voter” is Leaving Voters Who Move Behind

Post See all

When you update your address at the DMV, they should also update your voter registration. But a new report explains how—in too many states—that just isn't happening. Read more

Changes of Address and the National Voter Registration Act

Publication See all

Under the NVRA, when you change your address at the DMV, it's supposed to update your voter registration as well. Too many states are failing to comply with this law. This new report summarizes the scope of the problem, and offers solutions. Read more

Nearly 1,500 Votes Being Counted Because of Action NC v. Strach

Press Release See all

As a result of a lawsuit brought by Project Vote and partners, over 1,500 North Carolinians—who would otherwise have been disenfranchised—will have their votes counted. Read more

Action NC v. Strach: Directive from Kim Strach to Count Provisional Ballots

Litigation Document See all

Directive from Kim Strach, director of the North Carolina Board of Directors, instructing that provisional ballots of certain voters who attempted to register at DMVs must be counted. Read more

The Role of Voter Suppression in the 2016 Election

Post See all

While the full impact of voter suppression measures in the United States is unclear, we do have a glimpse into all the many barriers that affected voters and would-be voters in the 2016 elections. Read more