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handle is hein.crs/govefau0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional
*  Research Service
Informing the Iegislt tie debate since 1914___________________
Voter Registration Agencies Under the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993
(NVRA)
Updated December 22, 2021
A key purpose of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) was to expand access to voter
registration for federal elections, in part by providing registration opportunities at various government
agencies that people commonly visit for services. NVRA's motor voter provisions require state
departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) to provide a simultaneous application for federal voter
registration alongside an application for a driver's license. NVRA also requires that states designate other
state or local offices (and potentially federal or nongovernmental offices, with the agreement of those
offices) as voter registration agencies, which distribute voter registration applications; offer assistance for
applicants completing these forms; and transmit completed applications to the appropriate state election
official.
At times, Congress has shown interest in revising the NVRA voter registration agency requirements to,
for example, specify participation by certain agencies or modify the registration-related requirements for
designated voter registration agencies. On March 7, 2021, as part of Executive Order 14019 (Promoting
Access to Voting), President Biden directed all federal agencies to explore ways in which they could
provide access to voter registration alongside the provision of agency services and potentially participate
as an NVRA voter registration agency, if requested by a state. This Insight provides background on
NVRA's voter registration agency requirements and briefly discusses related recent executive branch
actions and legislative proposals from the 117th Congress.
Federal Voter Registration Agency Provisions
NVRA contains two types of voter registration requirements for agencies: one specifically for state DMVs
and another for state-designated voter registration agencies. Section 5 of NVRA (52 U.S.C. §20504)
requires a process described as simultaneous application whereby state DMVs ask individuals whether
they would like to register to vote (or update an existing registration) on every motor vehicle license
application or renewal application.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11782
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

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