Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act
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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Federal Court Says North Carolina Likely Violated “Motor Voter” Law
With the 2016 election less than two weeks away, a federal judge has ordered North Carolina election officials to take actions to protect eligible citizens. 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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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
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Project Vote and partners sue North Carolina over widespread disenfranchisement and a steep decline in voter registration activity . Read more
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The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reinstated a case challenging the State of Nevada’s failure to provide voter registration to its low-income citizens. Read more
Voting Rights Advocates Settle Matter Alleging NVRA Violations in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Agrees To Bring Public Assistance Agencies into Compliance with the Law July 30, 2015 NEW YORK, WASHINGTON and OKLAHOMA... Read more
Voting Rights Advocates Settle Long-Running Voter Registration Suit
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Voting Rights Advocates Call on North Carolina to Take Action after Voter Registrations Drop Sharply at State Public Assistance Agencies
According to the letter, voter registration applications initiated at public assistance agencies have dropped dramatically since Gov. Pat McCrory took office. Read more
Voting Rights Advocates Settle Voter Registration Suit
Today, voting rights advocates announced a settlement with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) that will ensure that hundreds of thousands of eligible Massachusetts citizens are provided opportunities to register to vote... Read more
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Partially Upholds Challenge to Louisiana’s Administration of National Voter Registration Act
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Scott, et al. v. Schedler, et al., issued a ruling partially upholding a district court’s ruling after trial that Louisiana violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by failing to properly provide voter registration services to its public assistance clients. Read more