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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Harkless v. Brunner (Ohio)

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In September 2006 Project Vote and partners filed a lawsuit against officials in the state of Ohio alleging widespread violations of Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more

Harkless v. Brunner: Notice Letter

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Pre-litigation notice letter concerning Ohio's violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more

Legislative Summary: The National Voter Registration Act

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The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 dramatically increased the opportunities for eligible Americans to become registered to vote in Federal elections. This document is a short summary of relevant sections, followed by a closer examination of some of the Act’s requirements. Read more