An analysis of a June 27 report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission shows that voter registration application rates at state public assistance agencies have risen following National Voter Registration Act enforcement actions by advocacy groups Demos, Project Vote, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and others. Other states that have not been targeted have continued to decline in registration of lower-income residents.
The data–collected between the 2008 and 2010 elections–showcases the effectiveness of enforcement of the NVRA in bringing low-income citizens into the electorate. For example, Ohio and Missouri topped the rankings in reported voter registration applications submitted at public assistance office. Both states settled lawsuits regarding law of NVRA compliance, brought by Demos, Project Vote, the Lawyers’ Committee, and others.
“After our lawsuit brought about compliance with Section 7, Missouri went from one of the worst public agency registration states to one of the best,” said Nicole Zeitler, director of Project Vote’s Public Agency Voter Registration Program. “This report shows what we’ve always known: with proper enforcement of the NVRA, public agency voter registration is an incredibly effective way to reach lower-income Americans.”
“States that have made ongoing compliance a priority, like North Carolina, Colorado, and Virginia, also fared well,” according to the press release. “Each of these states worked cooperatively with either Demos or Project Vote to improve voter registration procedures at public assistance offices within the states.”
“The nonprofit advocacy groups have taken on the burden of litigation in Ohio, Missouri, and several other states, but the responsibility for enforcing the NVRA ultimately lies with the Department of Justice,” the release continues, adding that the DOJ has recently begun enforcement action in Rhode Island and Louisiana.
Read the press release here.
Read the EAC report analysis here.