Government Agency Registration

Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) in 1993 to increase the number of citizens registered to vote in Federal elections.

One of the most important ways the NVRA was designed to increase registration was by ensuring that citizens are offered the opportunity to register to vote at places where they interact with the government: at motor vehicle offices and public assistance offices (such as those that provide Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid).

However, since the implementation of the NVRA in 1995–1996, many states have been neglecting the voter registration provisions of the law. Project Vote works to enforce the NVRA’s requirements, and ensure that all citizens are provided with the voter registration assistance they are guaranteed under the law.

The Government Agency Registration Program assists states, social service agencies, motor vehicle offices, and election officials with implementation of the NVRA’s requirements. In addition to technical assistance, the Program conducts research, documents noncompliance and, when necessary, initiates litigation to enforce the NVRA.

Additionally, the Government Agency Registration Program works to expand voter registration opportunities at other places where eligible citizens interact with their government, such as immigration offices and health benefits providers.

Voter registration drives will always have an essential role to play in our democracy, but the responsibility to register eligible Americans to vote must rest first and foremost on the government.

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New Video Highlights Georgia NVRA Section 7 Case

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In 2011, Project Vote and our partners—including the ACLU, the Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda, Demos, the Lawyers’ Committee for... Read more

Letter to Motor Vehicles Division of New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Dept.

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Letter to New Mexico's MVD concerning their obligations under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more

Obamacare helping millions register to vote

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Nationwide, Obamacare could ultimately be responsible for registering anywhere from 3 to 7 million voters over the next eight years. Read more

Californians who used health marketplaces receive voter registration forms

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California officials have started sending voter registration forms to 4 million people who shopped on the state’s new online health insurance marketplace, as part of a legal settlement with voting rights groups… Read more

California Agrees to Comply with Voter Registration Law Under Settlement

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In a victory for voting rights, California has agreed to mail voter registration cards to nearly 4 million Californians who signed up for health insurance through the state health exchange, and to ensure that the exchange provides voter registration opportunities going forward. Read more

Progressive Groups Take Obama to Task for Violating Voting Rights Law

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After months of quiet lobbying, civil rights groups and progressive organizations are now coming out publicly against the Obama administration for failing to enforce a voting rights law that applies to the Obamacare health insurance exchanges. Read more

Voting Rights Groups Applaud District Court’s Decision In Public Assistance Voter Registration Case

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On Friday, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a series of rulings in Delgado v. Galvin… Read more

Democracy Initiative Calls on President Obama to Bring Health Care Exchanges into Compliance with Federal Voter Registration Law

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Today, the Democracy Initiative—a coalition of more than 40 organizations committed to strengthening American democracy—called on the president to ensure that millions of Americans applying for benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are also provided their federally-guaranteed opportunity to register to vote. Read more

Obamacare Voter Registration Criticized By Left and Right

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“There is a day and night difference between what is required by law and what the administration has done,” said Michael Slater, executive director of Project Vote. Read more

Liberal groups: O-Care breaking voting law

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Demos and Project Vote contend that the application process through the federal exchanges don’t provide sufficient voter registration services. Read more