The Dangers of Playing with Matches
Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002 to impose fair and more uniform standards for state election administration, including provisions to establish and maintain statewide voter registration databases.
However, some states have misinterpreted the intent of database maintenance prodcedures outlined in HAVA and passed onerous “No Match, No Vote” laws. Under such statutes, if a state is unable to match the information on a voter’s registration application with information in an existing government database, the application is denied outright.
Research shows that matching voter data with other government databases is an unreliable, error-laden process, and that conditioning the right to vote on such a flawed system will inevitably disenfranchise eligible citizens.
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Project Vote Testimony in Opposition to Indiana Voter Purge Bill
Project Vote submitted testimony to the Indiana House Elections and Apportionment Committee in opposition to voter registration cancellations bill SB 442. Read more
Project Vote Letter to Governor McAuliffe to Veto SB 1581
Project Vote urged Governor McAuliffe to veto "No Match, No Vote" bill, SB 1581. Read more
Debunking Fraud Claims Based on Database Matching
Fact sheet and talking points on the problem with database matching programs. Read more
Project Vote Testimony on Virginia’s “No Match, No Vote” Bill SB 1581
Project Vote testifies in opposition to Virginia’s "No Match, No Vote" bill, SB 1581. Read more
Project Vote Testimony on Virginia “No Match, No Vote” Bill SB 1581
Project Vote submitted testimony in opposition to voter registration matching prerequisite bill SB 1581 to the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on January 31, 2017. Read more
Legislative Threats and Opportunities: Spring 2015
To date in 2015, lawmakers in 24 states have proposed at least 52 bills that threaten voting rights, while lawmakers in 36 states have proposed to improve election administration in some way... Read more
Legislative Brief: Maintaining Current and Accurate Voter Lists
Every state is tasked with the duty to maintain current and accurate computerized statewide voter registration rolls, while at the same time ensuring that no eligible voters are wrongfully removed from the rolls. This report discusses some of the challenges inherent in balancing these two goals, and offers recommendations for implementing best practices. Read more
Policy Paper: Maintaining Current and Accurate Voter Lists
This report discusses some of the challenges for election officials inherent in maintaining accurate voter lists while ensuring no eligible voters are wrongfully removed from the rolls, and offers recommendations for implementing best practices. Read more
Policy Paper: No Match, No Vote
Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002, including provisions to streamline and modernize voter registration databases and establish identification requirements. However, some states have misinterpreted the law and passed onerous “No Match, No Vote” laws. Read more
Model Bill: Voter List Maintenance
This document provides a template for lawmakers and other interested parties to draft bills on voter list maintenance. Read more