National Voter Registration Act Implementation Project

Provisions of the National Voter Registration Act

Congress' intent upon passage of the National Voter Registration Act was threefold: to increase the number of citizens who register to vote; to enhance the participation of eligible citizens who register to vote; and to protect the integrity of the electoral process. To accomplish these goals, the NVRA includes an array of requirements affecting state voter registration processes.¹

I. Simultaneous Driver's License Application and Voter Registration (Sec. 5)

Each state's motor vehicle driver's license application (and renewal application) must also serve as a voter registration application for any applicant who signs the section of the form requesting registration. States may not require individuals to provide any information for voter registration that duplicates information already provided in applying for a driver's license.

II. Designation of a Chief State Election Official (Sec. 10)

Each state must designate a state officer or employee as the Chief State Election Official. This official is responsible for coordination and implementation of state responsibilities under NVRA.

III. Mail-In Voter Registration Forms (Sec. 6)

Each state must accept and use the mail voter registration application prescribed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), or develop and use a mail voter registration form that meets the same criteria, for federal elections. The Chief State Election Official must make these mail-in forms available to the public through governmental and private entities, "with particular emphasis on making them available for organized voter registration programs."

IV. Voter Registration Available at All Public Assistance Agencies and Programs Assisting the Disabled (Sec. 7)

Each state must designate as voter registration agencies "all offices in the State that provide public assistance" and all offices administering programs "primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities." States must include with all public assistance applications, recertification forms, and change of address forms a voter registration application and present, in writing, the following question: "If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?" Forms must include boxes for the applicant to check to indicate their response to this question.

In addition, the worker must offer that individual "the same degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the registration application form as is provided by the office with regard to the completion of its own forms." If an agency serves a person with a disability in that person's home, the agency must provide voter registration services at that person's home.  Finally, states are required to designate other offices as voter registration agencies.  Eligible institutions can include unemployment compensation offices, public schools, public libraries, and government tax offices.

For more information on the requirements of Section 7 of the NVRA, click here.

V. Standards for Confirmation of Voter Registration and Removal of Names from Voter Rolls (Sec. 8)

NVRA sets clear standards for confirmation of registration. Among these standards are requirements that systems for confirmation shall be uniform and nondiscriminatory, and shall not result in the removal of a voter's name from the rolls by reason of the person's failure to vote.

States are prohibited from removing voters from the rolls due to change of residence unless the voter either confirms in writing that they have changed residence or fails to respond to notice regarding change of residence and does not vote during the period beginning on the date of notice and ending on the day after the second general election for Federal office following the notice.