WASHINGTON — As states continue to introduce new restrictions that complicate voter registration and participation ahead of the midterm elections, Fair Elections Center is releasing an updated set of state-specific guides to help community advocates conduct voter registration drives in accordance with new local requirements. The free, nonpartisan resources provide clear information for 49* states and Washington D.C.’s voter registration deadlines, notification and registration requirements, compensation restrictions, registrar training mandates, application paperwork, and more.
In recent years, voter registration rules have become increasingly inconsistent across the country. States have begun adopting confusing proof-of-citizenship requirements, stringent fines for innocent mistakes by community groups conducting registration drives, reduced operating hours for in-person voter services, and other administrative red tape. As these policies continue to evolve, Fair Elections Center aims to equip community organizers with trusted, nonpartisan state-specific resources to help them understand the voter registration process and prepare for upcoming elections—specific to where they live.
“Helping fellow community members register to vote shouldn’t require people to become experts in election law,” said Michelle Kanter Cohen, Senior Counsel and Policy Director at Fair Elections Center. “When states adopt new registration requirements or make it harder for community groups to help voters register, the burden falls most heavily on new voters who aren’t otherwise likely to make it through the steps to be ready to vote. These guides help ensure that community leaders and organizations have the information they need to understand the voter registration process in their state and feel empowered to help fellow citizens register and vote in the midterm elections.”
Voter registration drive guides for 49* U.S. states and Washington, D.C. can be found here.
(*North Dakota does not have traditional voter registration.)
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Fair Elections Center is a national, nonpartisan voting rights and election reform organization that defends, expands, and facilitates voting rights.