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.
Most Recent / Relevant Items
- (203)
- (18)
- (10)
- (17)
- (45)
- (53)
- (63)
Advanced Filters and Sorting
National Voter Registration Act Turns 20, Faces Challenges Today
“To the extent that Americans now think voter registration is easy, it’s largely because of the NVRA,” says Michael Slater, executive director of Project Vote. Read more
Federal Court Rules That Louisiana Systemically Violated the NVRA
On January 23, voting rights advocates won a major legal victory on behalf of Louisiana’s public assistance agency clients, the state’s most vulnerable and most marginalized residents. Read more
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania settles National Voter Registration Act case
On Wednesday, the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and ACTION United entered a Court approved Settlement Agreement with Pennsylvania officials, resolving claims relative to the Commonwealth’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
National Voting Rights Organizations Begin Litigation to Enforce National Voter Registration Act in Pennsylvania
Today the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and ACTION United filed suit alleging that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has systematically failed to comply with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Read more
Arkansas Failing to Offer Voter Registration to Low-Income Residents
Citing clear evidence that low-income Arkansas residents have been denied the opportunity to register to vote, attorneys from voting rights groups Project Vote and Demos sent 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
Voting Rights Groups Move to Hold Alabama Accountable to Federal Voter Registration Law
Today attorneys from Demos, Project Vote, and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sent a pre-litigation notice letter to the Alabama Secretary of State on behalf of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. Read more
National Voting Rights Organizations Begin Litigation to Enforce National Voter Registration Act in Nevada
On Monday, a coalition of national voting rights groups filed a Complaint against Secretary of State Ross Miller and Director of the department of Health & Human Services, Michael Willden in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Read more
Massachusetts Citizen and Community Groups Sue Commonwealth for Failing to Provide Voter Registration Opportunities
A lawsuit was filed today against the State of Massachusetts for violating the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). Read more
Federal Judge Rules that Louisiana Must Offer Voter Registration to Public Agency Clients
Yesterday, voting rights advocates won an important legal victory that will ensure that Louisiana’s public assistance agency clients—the state’s poorest and most marginalized residents—will be offered an opportunity to register to vote. Read more
Voting Rights Organizations Begin Litigation to Enforce National Voter Registration Act in PA
Attorneys from voting rights groups sent a pre-litigation notice letter on Monday to the Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, charging that the state is failing to provide low-income residents with a legally-mandated opportunity to register to vote. Read more