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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Letter to Maryland State Board of Elections Regarding Judicial Watch Threat to Sue Over Voter Rolls

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Project Vote and Demos respond to Judicial Watch’s threat to sue the state of Maryland for purported violations of the National Voter Registration Act regarding voter list maintenance. Read more

Debunking Fraud Claims Based on Database Matching

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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

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Project Vote testifies in opposition to Virginia’s "No Match, No Vote" bill, SB 1581. Read more

Legislative Threats and Opportunities: Fall 2015

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In latest edition of our Threats and Opportunities series, Erin Ferns Lee examines the status of important election bills—harmful and helpful—that were introduced in 2015. Read more

Legislative Threats and Opportunities: Spring 2015

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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

Letter to the North Carolina State Board of Elections on List Maintenance and Alleged Non-citizens

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On October 24, 2014, a coalition of voting rights groups wrote to North Carolina State Board of Elections members regarding list maintenance and alleged non-citizens. Read more

Policy Paper: Voter Registration Transparency

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This policy brief addresses the importance of transparency in the voter registration and list maintenance process, discusses current law and efforts to ensure public access to voter registration information, and reviews some best practices for making information available to the public. Read more

Legislative Brief: Maintaining Current and Accurate Voter Lists

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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

The National Voter Registration Act: Case Summaries

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This analysis of litigation under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 covers key issues including: (1) the constitutionality of the NVRA; (2) public agency registration under Section 7; (3) voter list maintenance under Section 8; (4) designation of certain offices as mandatory agencies under Section 7; (5) voter registration process; and (6) restrictions on third-party registration. Read more

A Review of Academic Literature on the Effectiveness of the National Voter Registration Act

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A 2009 review of academic literature on the effectiveness of the National Voter Registration Act. Read more