Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act
Though most people know the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) as the “motor voter” law, fewer people know that it also mandates that voter registration be offered at other government agencies besides DMVs. State agencies offering SNAP (food stamps), TANF, Medicaid, and other government benefits are also legally required to assist their clients in registering to vote under the NVRA.
Congress included this provision, Section 7, exactly to reach the citizens who are less likely to register through other means: low-income people, minorities, the elderly, and the disabled.
However, too many states have been ignoring this part of the NVRA, meaning that millions of our most vulnerable citizens are missing out on the change to make their voices heard. That’s why Project Vote and our partners are working to fix that. We investigate compliance. We document violations of the NVRA. And, where we find problems, we work—through advocacy, assistance, and litigation—to ensure that states are following the law and doing right by their citizens.
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Michigan Failing to Offer Voter Registration to Public Assistance Clients
Citing clear evidence that the State of Michigan is failing to provide low-income residents with a legally-mandated opportunity to register to vote, attorneys from voting rights groups informed state officials they must comply with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) or face litigation. Read more
Scott v. Schedler: Order Denying Motion to Dismiss
Order Denying Motion to Dismiss Read more
Federal Judge Rules that Lawsuit against the State of Louisiana Over Failure to Offer Voter Registration Services May Continue
Today, a federal court rejected the State of Louisiana's effort to dismiss a lawsuit regarding the State’s failure to offer public assistance recipients the opportunity to register vote. Read more
New EAC Report Shows Increased Voter Registration Among Low-Income Americans
A newly released review of a June 27 report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) shows that voter registration application rates at state public assistance agencies have risen sharply following National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) enforcement actions by advocacy groups Demos, Project Vote, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and others. Read more
Valdez v. Duran: Settlement Agreement
Settlement agreement pertaining to Section 5 (motor vehicle offices) claims in Valdez v. Duran Read more
Georgia NAACP v. Kemp (2011)
In June 2011 Project Vote and partners filed a lawsuit against officials in Georgia over violations of Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
Voting Rights Groups Sue Georgia for Neglecting Voting Rights of Low-Income Residents
A coalition of voting rights groups filed suit today against Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Clyde J. Reese III to remedy the State of Georgia’s failure to provide voter registration services at state public assistance offices, as required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). Read more
Project Vote Intervention Results in Surge in Public Agency Registrations in Colo.
In the past we’ve told you about lawsuits Project Vote and our partners have brought in several states to enforce... Read more
La. sued for disenfranchising minority and low-income voters
Louisiana is being sued for alleged non-compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc. (LDF), Project Vote, and several private persons. Read more
Scott v. Schedler (Louisiana)
In April 2011 Project Vote and partners filed a lawsuit against officials in Louisiana for widespread violations of Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more