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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Massachusetts Citizen and Community Groups Sue Commonwealth for Failing to Provide Voter Registration Opportunities
A lawsuit was filed today against the State of Massachusetts for violating the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). Read more
National Council of La Raza v Miller: Notice Letter
Pre-litigation notice letter informing Secretary of State Ross Miller that Nevada public assistance agencies were not in compliance with Section 7 of the NVRA. Read more
LDF and Project Vote Win Important Legal Victory for Public Assistance Recipients in Louisiana
“The court’s ruling will ensure that low-income individuals will not be denied voter registration services because of advancing technology,” said Sarah Brannon of Project Vote. Read more
Federal Judge Rules that Louisiana Must Offer Voter Registration to Public Agency Clients
Yesterday, voting rights advocates won an important legal victory that will ensure that Louisiana’s public assistance agency clients—the state’s poorest and most marginalized residents—will be offered an opportunity to register to vote. Read more
Voting Rights Organizations Begin Litigation to Enforce National Voter Registration Act in PA
Attorneys from voting rights groups sent a pre-litigation notice letter on Monday to the Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, charging that the state is failing to provide low-income residents with a legally-mandated opportunity to register to vote. Read more
Black Political Empowerment Project v. Aichele: Notice Letter
Pre-litigation notice letter concerning Pennsylvania's violations of Sec. 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
The Right to Register
After Project Vote and a coalition of several other voting rights groups filed a lawsuit, the state of Georgia agreed to a settlement. Read more
Georgia Settles Lawsuit To Offer Voter Registration to Public Assistance Recipients
The state of Georgia has settled a lawsuit with a coalition of voting rights groups to enforce a requirement in the NVRA to offer the opportunity to register to vote to anyone applying for state public assistance. Read more
Georgia Settles National Voter Registration Act Lawsuit, Agrees to Provide Registration Services to Low-Income Citizens
A coalition of national voting rights groups have secured a landmark settlement with the State of Georgia to ensure that voter registration is offered to all public assistance applicants. Read more
Georgia NAACP v. Kemp: Settlement Agreement
Settlement agreement in which Georgia public assistance agencies agree to comply with voter registration requirements of the National Voter Registration Act. Read more