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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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 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
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
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
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
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
Agency violates voter registration law
A federal judge has ruled New Mexico's Human Services Department is violating the National Voter Registration Act by not offering a voter registration application with every application for public assistance benefits. Read more