LWV Staff

"This is an important voting rights issue that can no longer be ignored," said League President Elisabeth MacNamara.

In a letter to President Obama, three of the nation's leading voting rights organizations—Demos, Project Vote, and the League of Women Voters—urged the Administration to come into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by providing voter registration to eligible persons through the federally-facilitated health benefit exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the letter, the groups—who have previously won many NVRA-enforcement lawsuits—indicated that they are prepared to seek legal recourse if necessary. The letter follows over two years of advocacy efforts on the part of the organizations regarding ongoing violations of the NVRA. Widely known as the “motor voter” law, the NVRA requires that registration services be offered in tandem with transactions conducted by certain government programs. Its requirements apply to all the health benefit exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

LWV of North Carolina and Democracy North Carolina interviewed local election officials to get an on-the-ground view of voting administration resources and procedures.

Today, the state of Kansas begins the process of purging tens of thousands of voters from a suspension list created for otherwise eligible voters who were unable to fulfill a restrictive proof-of-citizenship requirement.

“This is disappointing and a further call to action for regulation of ozone pollution that puts American’s health first and foremost,” said Elisabeth MacNamara, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

In the past month, four states have taken a step to improve access to the polls. Voters in Pennsylvania and Nebraska can now register to vote online, while Iowa and Kentucky will have online voter registration systems by early 2016.

League members and supporters understand that progress – the kind that sticks – doesn’t come easy or quick but it does come if you keep pushing.

"League teams are finding new voters at bike races, gyms and new citizen ceremonies on this National Voter Registration Day,” said President MacNamara.

You wouldn't know there are thousands of important state and local elections this year from reading the news! Go to www.VOTE411.org to see what's happening in your community!

Earlier this month, the League of Women Voters of Kansas and other voting rights advocates fought to protect the nearly 35,000 voters at risk of being purged from Kansas’ voter rolls by testifying against the proposed changes.