Voter Purges

Protecting the Voter Rolls

It’s one thing to get citizens onto the voter rolls. But it’s equally important that we make sure eligible voters stay on the rolls.

Under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), states are tasked with maintaining current and accurate voter registration databases. However, the lack of clear and uniform standards for list maintenance has resulted in inconsistent standards from state to state, and poorly developed “voter purge” programs have often led to the mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters. Frequently, such ill-conceived purge programs have had a disproportionate impact on minority populations.

The removal of voters from the rolls needs to be undertaken with the greatest of care, and in complete compliance with the standards established by federal law, including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which contains a number of procedural protections to protect eligible voters from wrongful removals.

Project Vote closely monitors, investigates, and where necessary brings suits against illegal and discriminatory voter purge activity.

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Montgomery County Board of Elections to review registration practices

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Montgomery County elections officials said they will review registration procedures in response to allegations from a conservative watchdog group that the county’s rolls are packed with ineligible voters — even as advocates and county Elections Board staff raised questions about the group’s claims. Read more

Georgia agrees to add thousands to voter rolls ahead of Nov. election

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by Kristina Torres, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Gainesville — Georgia has agreed to temporarily suspend a requirement that has prevented tens... Read more

Hundreds flagged in NC voter rolls audit

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On Friday, a coalition of voting rights groups expressed concern about the audit in a letter to state elections officials. Read more

NC officials say 1,425 voters are in question

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A coalition of voting rights groups expressed “deep concern about the way in which the State Board of Elections is identifying and potentially removing voters who it alleges are noncitizens.” Read more

Here’s Another Crazy Consequence of Eric Cantor’s Loss

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Eric Cantor's loss in the Virginia Republican primary on Tuesday night is terrible news for voting rights. Read more

In Florida, Bid to Cut Voter Rolls Is Set Back

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Gov. Rick Scott’s effort to remove voters who are not American citizens from voter registration rolls has suffered a one-two punch in the past week. Read more

Rick Scott’s voter purge was illegal: Court

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Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s badly flawed purge of the voter rolls before the 2012 election was illegal, a federal court ruled Tuesday. Read more

Post mea culpa, Florida still at odds with civil rights groups on 2012 purge

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“Florida has a history of purging eligible voters, and we need to make sure that history does not repeat itself.” Read more

How to Make Voting Easier

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Much progress has been made as we mark the 20th anniversary of the NVRA, but there’s still a long way to go. Read more

Online registration may ease state voter disenfranchisement

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A March 27 report by Project Vote found that last year more photo ID laws, voter purges and voter registration restrictions were either introduced or passed in state legislatures across the country than ever before.    Read more