Honoring the National Voter Registration Act

Updated May 12, 2023.

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) is one of the most transformative laws enhancing voting opportunities for every American. The NVRA has made it easier for millions to register to vote and protect voter rolls from intentional shenanigans or unintentional exclusion.  

Very much like life, there have been challenges often, but with each test, the NVRA has uncovered valuable lessons on how to remain standing.

The Story of LWV and the NVRA

In the 1980s and 1990s, the League worked to break down the barriers to voting, first through the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), and then through a campaign for passage and implementation of the landmark National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).  

In 1990, LWVEF convened a symposium of scholars, journalists, campaign consultants, and activists to examine the role negative campaigning played in the decline in voter participation along with possible grassroots remedies. The symposium led to a comprehensive effort to return the voter to the center of the election process.

A campaign to Take Back the System coordinated League activities to make voter registration more accessible, provide voters with information about candidates and issues, and restore voters’ confidence and involvement in the electoral system.

The program included:

• LWVUS efforts on voter registration and campaign finance reform;
• An LWVEF presidential primary debate; 
• A national voter registration drive;
• Voter registration efforts aimed at young citizens; a campaign watch pilot project to help citizens deter unfair campaign practices; and
• Grassroots efforts to register, inform, and involve voters. 

The League’s grassroots campaign to secure national legislation to reform voter registration resulted in the 1990 house passage of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)—“motor-voter”—but the bill did not reach the Senate that year. 

Passing the NVRA 

In 1991, the effort to pass national motor-voter legislation intensified, and the National Voter Registration Act of 1991 was introduced in the Senate. Leading a national coalition, the League executed a high-visibility, multifaceted, grassroots drive, resulting in passage by both houses in 1992. But President George H. W. Bush vetoed the bill and the Senate failed to override. 

On May 20, 1993, the years of concerted effort by the League and other organizations paid off when both houses passed and President Clinton signed the National Voter Registration Act. The President gave one of the signing pens to LWVUS and saluted the League as “fighters for freedom” in the continuing effort to expand American democracy.  

National Voter Registration Day 

Since 2012, the League has served on the national working committee that oversees National Voter Registration Day (NVRD). This major national initiative has brought together thousands of partners to register hundreds of thousands of voters each September. The League has consistently been one of NVRD's largest on-the-ground partners; in 2022 alone, 450 Leagues across the US hosted 600+ NVRD events.

The story continues: LWV, the foremost defender of the NVRA 

Since the passage of the NVRA in 1993, the League continues to be the chief defender of the Act. From acting as amici in court to preserve the text and spirit of the law to advocating on behalf of the law with Secretaries of State. Between 2018 and 2020, the League sent letters in at least 14 states. And you want to know how many times were successful? All of them.  

Here are some highlights of our work:  

Stringer v. Hughs 

The Texas League pushed back against the state for continued violations of the NVRA requirement that voters be allowed to simultaneously register when seeking a state-issued ID or driver’s license.   

PILF v. Winfrey

The Leagues in Michigan and Detroit filed a motion to intervene as defendants to prevent a voter purge that would be based on unverified data and on its face does not comply with NVRA standard practices and procedures for executing reasonable list maintenance.   

Hoge v. Padilla

The California League moved to intervene as defendants in a lawsuit brought by three California voters seeking to add a “proof of citizenship” requirement to the state’s voter registration process. The League hopes to highlight the importance of NVRA-mandated voter registration opportunities and the discriminatory impact of the plaintiff’s lawsuit. 

League of Women Voters of Arizona v. Reagan

The Arizona League joined partners to file suit against the Arizona Secretary of State over the department’s violation of Section 5 of the NVRA. The NVRA requires states to update voters’ registration addresses when there is a driver’s license address change, unless the voter opts out of updating their voter registration address. Arizona’s Motor Vehicle Department was requiring voters to opt-in to registration address updates, in direct violation of the NVRA.  

League of Women Voters of Missouri v. Ashcroft

The Missouri League and the St. Louis and Greater Kansas City Chapters of APRI filed suit against the Missouri Secretary of State over the state’s failure to provide voter registration services required under Section 5 of the NVRA. Voters whose information is not current would be disenfranchised due to the state’s noncompliance, leaving elderly, active-duty servicemember, and non-white voters especially vulnerable.

Zignego, et al. v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, et al.

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin asked an Ozaukee County judge to allow LWVWI to join a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission as an intervening defendant. The Ozaukee County judge denied the League’s motion to intervene and ordered the Elections Commission to purge the 234,000 voters from the rolls immediately. However, a Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge preserved the voter rolls by reversing the Ozaukee County judge’s order. Voters were protected under the NVRA.  

And these are just a handful of the cases Leagues are involved with to defend the spirit and text of the National Voter Registration Act. In Fiscal Year 2019, the League engaged in nearly a dozen cases and pre-litigation relating to the NVRA, prevailing in all of them. Just another indicator that LWV continues to be a chief defender of the very law we worked so hard to pass. 

What’s Next?

Well, simply put—keep fighting. There are a few bars from one of my favorite songs that really captures what we are all called to do: 

You’ll always do your best 
If you learn to never say never 
You may be down but you’re not out 
And that’s where I will lift you up 

Don’t give up and don’t give in 
You will always pass the test 
As long as you keep your head to the sky, be optimistic 
You can win  

There is a reason why the National Voter Registration Act remains buoyant despite challenges. And when the next test comes along, well, we’re just going to arm ourselves with our history and hold this song close to mind as we keep keeping on. Perhaps the lesson for us all is to keep your head high—we can win.

Cheers to more years of the NVRA!

Check out more NVRA work the League has done.

Song credit: "Optimistic" by Sounds of Blackness