Public Assistance Agencies

Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act

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The plaintiffs and attorneys in Project Vote and the NAACP’s public assistance agency lawsuit in Louisiana.

Though most people know the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) as the “motor voter” law, fewer people know that it also mandates that voter registration be offered at other government agencies besides DMVs. State agencies offering SNAP (food stamps), TANF, Medicaid, and other government benefits are also legally required to assist their clients in registering to vote under the NVRA.

Congress included this provision, Section 7, exactly to reach the citizens who are less likely to register through other means: low-income people, minorities, the elderly, and the disabled.

However, too many states have been ignoring this part of the NVRA, meaning that millions of our most vulnerable citizens are missing out on the change to make their voices heard. That’s why Project Vote and our partners are working to fix that. We investigate compliance. We document violations of the NVRA. And, where we find problems, we work—through advocacy, assistance, and litigation—to ensure that states are following the law and doing right by their citizens.

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The Ugly Climate in North Carolina

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Continuing a pattern of discriminatory laws, North Carolina just passed a bill legalizing discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Read more

Advocates to Court: Protect Rights of N.C. Voters This November

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North Carolina needs to follow the law before the state blocks more people from voting in November. Read more

Voting Rights Advocates Ask Court to Immediately Protect the Rights of N.C. Citizens to Vote in the 2016 Election

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Yesterday, Project Vote and partners asked a federal judge to issue an interim order to prevent widespread disenfranchisement of North Carolina voters. Read more

Action NC et al v. Strach (North Carolina): Memo in Support of Preliminary Injunction

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Project Vote and partners filed for a preliminary injunction to force North Carolina to immediately comply with Secs. 5 and 7 of the NVRA. Read more

Action NC et al v. Strach (North Carolina): Memo in Support of Expedited Discovery

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A memo in support of expedited discovery in Action NC et al v. Strach. Read more

Nevada Officials Settle Voting-Rights Squabble

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Nevada agreed to improve its efforts to abide by the National Voter Registration Act NVRA to settle a federal lawsuit filed by Project Vote and our partners. Read more

Nevada settles US lawsuit on behalf of low-income voters

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The state of Nevada has agreed to new training and reporting requirements to settle a federal lawsuit accusing its public assistance offices of failing to do enough to help low-income clients register to vote. Read more

Nevada settles lawsuit over registering low-income voters

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Voting rights advocates and the state of Nevada settled a lawsuit today over the state’s implementation of a federal law aimed at registering low-income voters. Read more

Nevada officials settle lawsuit with voting rights advocates

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Nevada officials have settled a lawsuit with voting rights advocates over making voter registration materials available to low-income and disabled clients. Read more

Coalition Secures Settlement That Expands Voter Registration Opportunities Across Nevada

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Project Vote and partners reach a settlement with the State of Nevada to ensure low-income citizens are provided voter registration services through public assistance agencies. Read more