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.
The 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.
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Notice Letter to Nevada on NVRA Section 5 Violations
Pre-litigiation notice letter to Nevada Sec. of State Barbara Cegavske, concerning the state's ongoing violations of the "motor voter" law. Read more
Groups claim bumps in road for ‘motor voter’ law
Catherine M. Flanagan, senior election counsel with Project Vote, said, “We’re finding that the process is not working the way required under the act. People who try to register to vote when they conduct a driver’s license transaction are not being able to to register to vote.” Read more
Civil Rights Groups Sue North Carolina Over Voter Registration
A coalition of civil rights groups sued North Carolina on Tuesday, alleging that the state is violating a federal law regarding voter registration. Read more
Civic Groups Sue North Carolina Over Voting Rights Violations
North Carolina citizens did everything right to get registered to vote. But the state is failing them. Read more
Coalition of Civic Organizations Sue North Carolina for Failing to Comply with Federal Voting Rights Obligations
Project Vote and partners sue North Carolina over widespread disenfranchisement and a steep decline in voter registration activity . Read more
A. Phillip Randolph Institute et al vs. Strach (North Carolina): Complaint
Complaint filed against the state of North Carolina for violations of the National Voter Registration Act. Read more
Action NC et al v. Strach (North Carolina)
In December 2015, Project Vote and partners sued the state of North Carolina for widespread violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
Alabama Agrees to Make Voter Registration Easier After DOJ Threatens to Sue
As we reported last month, Alabama has received negative attention for its actions against voters, particularly those in low-income communities.... Read more
Alabama Under Fire for Blocking the Vote
Earlier this month, Alabama closed 31 DMV offices in majority-black counties across the state, a move that civil and voting rights... Read more
Report: Incorporating Automatic Voter Registration with the NVRA
At Project Vote, we are excited about the growing interest in AVR at both the state and federal level. We hope this paper will be useful to advocates and policy makers alike as we pursue this promising reform within existing federal law. Read more