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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Scott v. Schedler: Complaint
Lawsuit filed by Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP and two individuals charging that Louisiana has failed to provide voter registration services to public assistance clients as required by the NVRA. Read more
Rights Groups Sue Louisiana over Voting Rights Violations
Yesterday, Project Vote, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc. (LDF), and New Orleans attorney Ronald Wilson filed a complaint in federal court on behalf of the state conference of the NAACP and several private individuals, alleging that Louisiana is disenfranchising minority and low-income voters by failing to offer them the opportunity to register to vote as required by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
Federal judge approves NM voting rights settlement
A federal judge has approved a consent order aimed at ensuring New Mexicans have a chance to register to vote at public assistance offices. Read more
New Mexico Settles Lawsuit, Agrees to Offer Voter Registration to Public Assistance Clients
A federal judge today approved a consent order requiring New Mexico state officials to implement procedures to ensure that thousands of New Mexico citizens have the opportunity to register to vote at state public assistance offices, as provided by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). Read more
Notice Letter to Texas on NVRA Violations
Pre-litigation notice Letter to the Texas Secretary of State concerning compliance with Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
Georgia NAACP v. Kemp: Notice Letter
Pre-litigation notice letter informing Secretary of State Brian Kemp that Georgia public assistance agencies were not in compliance with Section 7 of the NVRA. Read more
Georgia Failing to Offer Voter Registration to Public Assistance Clients
Citing clear evidence that low-income Georgia residents are being denied a legally-mandated opportunity to register to vote, attorneys from Project Vote, Demos, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL), the ACLU Voting Rights Project, and the law firm of Dechert LLP sent a pre-litigation notice letter today to Secretary of State Brian Kemp, on behalf of the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP, demanding that the Secretary immediately act to bring Georgia into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) or face litigation. Read more
Civil rights group: La. violating voting law
Louisiana departments aren't complying with a federal law that requires public assistance agencies that serve low-income residents to offer them voter registration, a civil rights group said Wednesday. Read more
Louisiana Defaulting on Federal Obligation to Register Low-Income Residents
Citing clear evidence that numerous low-income Louisiana residents have been denied the opportunity to register to vote, attorneys from Project Vote, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), and New Orleans attorney Ronald Wilson, have sent officials a pre-litigation notice letter regarding the state’s non-compliance with the federal requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). Read more
Scott v. Schedler: Complaint Exhibit 1: Notice Letter
Pre-litigation notice letter informing Secretary of State Tom Schedler that Louisiana public assistance agencies were not in compliance with Section 7 of the NVRA. Read more