The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), also called the "Motor Voter Act," requires states to provide voter registration opportunities at motor vehicle departments, public assistance agencies, and through mail. It was designed to expand voter access while maintaining election integrity through a uniform process.
Section 8 of the NVRA requires states to maintain accurate voter registration lists through uniform, nondiscriminatory procedures. Before removing a voter from the rolls, states must provide 90 days' advance written notice, tell the voter why they might be removed, and allow them to correct the record. States conduct list maintenance through death records, address changes, and felony records.
The NVRA created a minimum national standard: voters must be offered registration at DMVs and social service agencies, reducing barriers to participation. However, states retain significant discretion over the timing and methods of voter list maintenance. Too aggressive purges can remove eligible voters; too lenient ones can create inaccurate rolls. Disputes over list maintenance are common, particularly when purges disproportionately affect certain communities.
The NVRA balances two goals: expanding voter access through easier registration and maintaining accurate rolls through list maintenance. The tension between these goals shapes ongoing disputes about voter eligibility.
People sometimes think voter purges are new or controversial inventions. They're required by the NVRA—states must maintain accurate rolls and remove ineligible voters. The disputes aren't about whether to purge, but how to do it without removing eligible voters.
The NVRA balances two goals: expanding voter access through easier registration and maintaining accurate rolls through list maintenance. The tension between these goals shapes ongoing disputes about voter eligibility.
People sometimes think voter purges are new or controversial inventions. They're required by the NVRA—states must maintain accurate rolls and remove ineligible voters. The disputes aren't about whether to purge, but how to do it without removing eligible voters.