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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Voter Registration Law Helps Close Disparities in Voter Turnout

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A recent article in Bloomberg View highlights some of work conducted by Project Vote and our partners to further the implementation and goals of the NVRA. Read more

The Voting Law That’s Being Ignored

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A few weeks ago, a Massachusetts government agency you've probably never heard of settled a lawsuit over what kinds of forms it has to hand out to people who apply for welfare. That might sound dull, but it's the backdrop for a fight against growing political and economic inequality. Read more

Massachusetts partially settles lawsuit over voter registration for welfare recipients

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The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance has settled a 2012 lawsuit with voting rights organizations by agreeing to distribute voter registration forms to people applying for public assistance... Read more

Voting Rights Advocates Settle Voter Registration Suit

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Today, voting rights advocates announced a settlement with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) that will ensure that hundreds of thousands of eligible Massachusetts citizens are provided opportunities to register to vote... Read more

NAACP v. Galvin: Settlement with Mass Health & EOHHS

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Mass Health and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services agreed to implement NVRA-compliant procedures, including offering voter registration during both in-person and remote transactions, assisting clients in completing the applications, transmitting completed applications to election officials, designating NVRA Coordinators to help ensure compliance, instituting quality control procedures, and sending annual reminders of voter registration responsibilities. Read more

NAACP v. Galvin: Settlement with Secretary of the Commonwealth

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Settlement agreement in which Massachusetts SOC agreed to review DTA and MassHealth voter registration policies and training materials, participate in training, and monitor registration activities of each of the public assistance agencies. The resulting voter registration data will be posted regularly on the SOC’s website. Read more

NAACP v. Galvin: Settlement with Department of Transitional Assistance

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Settlement agreement in which Massachusetts DTA agreed to comply with the NVRA and distribute voter registration applications and provide trainings on NVRA compliance. Read more

California DMV target of a suit over voter registration

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Voting-rights advocates are threatening to sue California — which has one of the nation’s lowest voter-registration rates — unless the state starts complying with a 20-year-old federal law... Read more

Voting Rights Groups Move to Enforce ‘Motor Voter’ in California

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Attorneys from Project Vote and partners move to jump-start voter registration at California DMVs. Read more

Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies: A FAQ

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This document provides background information on voter registration and naturalization ceremonies, and about the process of requesting approval to be one of the non-governmental organizations that offers voter registration services at these ceremonies. Read more