US Department of Justice Issues Voter Registration Guidance Big Win for Voters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released new guidance in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) that addresses limits on how and when voters may be removed from the rolls, affirms that the 90-day window applies to mass voter challenges, and clarifies that third-party information is not sufficient for removal. In response, Advancement Project, All Voting is Local, the Brennan Center for Justice, Campaign Legal Center, Dēmos, League of Women Voters of the United States, Legal Defense Fund, and Protect Democracy issued the following statement:

“We applaud the Department of Justice’s actions to ensure election officials across the nation are knowledgeable and armed with accurate information about the limits on how and when voters can be removed from the rolls. For the past several months, we have witnessed an exponential increase in baseless mass voter challenges attacking the eligibility of voters across several states. This guidance will serve as a foundational resource to not only prevent the disenfranchisement of voters but also deter ‘election vigilantes’ from continuing to overwhelm local election offices by challenging the eligibility of voters using faulty database tools. This is a win for voters as we head into the general election in November.”

Background

In its press release, the Department underscores what is required under the NVRA when removing voters from the rolls and emphasizes how states must adhere to federal voter protections and antidiscrimination laws while keeping their voter rolls accurate and up-to-date.

Amid a surge of challenges and attacks on voter eligibility, voting rights advocacy groups encouraged the DOJ to issue guidance to remind state and local jurisdictions of federal protections against unlawful voter removals and ensure every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote free of discrimination and intimidation.