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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Group says Ark. voter registration access lacking
A Washington, D.C.-based group says Arkansas has denied low-income residents the opportunity to register to vote, and Secretary of State Mark Martin's office says he is looking into the claim. Read more
Voting Rights Organization Accuses Arkansas of Neglecting Proper Services
"It is clear that Arkansas has been violating the NVRA for years and neglecting tens of thousands of low-income residents as a result." Read more
Voting rights groups say Alabama agencies not obeying federal voter registration laws
A coalition of voting rights and civil rights groups is alleging that Alabama is not meeting the law in providing voter registration materials to residents who seek government assistance. Read more
Voting rights groups sue Nevada over registration
Voting advocacy groups are suing Nevada, alleging the state is violating the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 by refusing to help low-income residents register to vote. 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
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
Righting the Voting Income Gap
In many of the states that saw an increase in recent years, nonprofit groups led by Dēmos, Project Vote, and The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law had either sued or threatened to sue the state. Read more
Voting rights activists threaten state with lawsuit: Michigan may be violating federal statute
A coalition of groups, including Demos, Project Vote, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL), and the NAACP, sent a letter to Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson last week alleging that the state is in violation of federal law requiring voter registration at public assistance offices. Read more
Michigan impeding low-income voter registration: Voting rights groups
Attorneys from Demos, Project Vote, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the NAACP have sent a pre-litigation notice letter (PDF) to Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson… Read more