Voter Registration Improvements

National Voter Registration Application Form

Register to vote in your state (except for North Dakota that has no voter registration and Wyoming that does not permit by mail registration) by using the postcard form and guide available from the following website:

eac.gov/sites/default/files/eac_assets/1/6/Federal_Voter_Registration_ENG.pdf

Automatic Voter Registration 

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) was passed by Congress in 1993. It required most states to provide citizens with an opportunity to register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver’s license at a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or other designated state agencies. Oregon was the first state to implement DMV automatic voter registration. When a resident of the state applies for a driver license, instruction permit or state identification card with the DMV the individual if eligible is automatically registered as a voter unless the individual chooses not to consent. The application form clearly states it is a felony to register if someone is not eligible to vote. Many state DMV systems are linked to the state voter registration database. This allows the DMV system to not only collect information on eligible voters but to electronically transfer information to the voter registration database. This process results in an increase in the percentage of registered eligible voters and should be implemented by all states.

DMV Automatic Voter Registration
 Region    AL   AK    AZ    AR   CA   CO   CT   DE   DC   FL   GA   HI   ID
Effective   2017     2018 2017 2016   2018   2016    
 Region   IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
Effective 2018           2022 2019 2020 2019      
 Region  MT  NE NV  NH  NJ  NM  NY  NC  ND  OH  OK  OR   PA
Effective      2020    2018  2020 2023           2016  
 Region   RI   SC   SD   TN   TX  UT   VT   VA   WA   WV   WI   WY   
Effective  2018            2017  2020  2019  2021      

 

Election Day/Same Day Registration

Current technology enables election day/same day voter registration. There is no justification to delay an eligible voter from exercising the constitutional right to vote.

Election Day/Same Day Voter Registration
 Region AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID
Effective         * * *   *      * *
 Region IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
Effective *   *       * *   * *    
 Region MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA
Effective *     *   *              
Region  RI SC  SD  TN  TX  UT  VT  VA  WA  WV  WI  WY   
Effective            *  *    *    *  *  

* = Implemented


Online Voter Registration

Voter registration is accomplished by mail (except for New Hampshire and Wyoming) or in person in states that don't provide online voter registration. North Dakota does not require voter registration. 

Online Voter Registration
 Region AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID
Effective *   * * * *  * *
 Region IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
Effective * *   * * *  
 Region MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA
Effective     *  
Region  RI SC  SD  TN  TX  UT  VT  VA  WA  WV  WI  WY   
Effective      *  *  *  *    

* = Implemented

Pre-Registration for High School Students

High schools can conduct registration classes for students who will be 18 years old by the next election. This could be accomplished as part of a civics course. populardemocracy.org provides a Registration Toolkit that facilitates conducting the program.

Updating Rolls When Moved or Deceased

The NVRA requires states to implement procedures to maintain accurate and current voter registration lists. The requirements apply to 44 states and the District of Columbia. North Dakota is exempt because it does not require voter registration. Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming are exempt because they have election-day voter registration at polling places. While the NVRA requires states to make reasonable efforts to remove persons who have died, it does not require any particular process for doing so. States can follow whatever state law process exists for doing this. Section 8 requires states to complete any program the purpose of which is to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters not later than 90 days prior to the date of a primary election or general election for federal office. This 90 day deadline applies to state list maintenance verification activities such as general mailings and door to door canvasses. This 90 day deadline does not, however, preclude removal of names at the request of the registrant, removal due to death of the registrant, removal due to criminal conviction or mental incapacity of the registrant as provided by state law, nor does the deadline preclude correction of a registrant’s information.

Voter Registration Impairments

Inactive Voter Removal