Public Assistance Agencies

Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act

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The plaintiffs and attorneys in Project Vote and the NAACP’s public assistance agency lawsuit in Louisiana.

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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Action NC et al v. Strach (North Carolina): Court Order

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Court order denying defendants' motion to dismiss, and granting in part plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction Read more

Action NC et al v. Strach (North Carolina): Memo in Support of Preliminary Injunction

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Project Vote and partners filed for a preliminary injunction to force North Carolina to immediately comply with Secs. 5 and 7 of the NVRA. Read more

Action NC et al v. Strach (North Carolina): Memo in Support of Expedited Discovery

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A memo in support of expedited discovery in Action NC et al v. Strach. Read more

National Council of La Raza v. Miller: Settlement Agreement

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Settlement agreement in National Council of La Raza v. Miller Read more

A. Phillip Randolph Institute et al vs. Strach (North Carolina): Complaint

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Complaint filed against the state of North Carolina for violations of the National Voter Registration Act. Read more

Notice Letter to North Carolina on NVRA Section 7 Violations

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Pre-litigation notice Letter to the North Carolina State Board of Elections concerning compliance with Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). 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

Notice Letter to Oklahoma on NVRA Section 7 Violations

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Pre-litigation notice Letter to the Oklahoma State Board of Elections concerning compliance with Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more