NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 20 that the state of New York has agreed to resolve allegations of failing to voter registration opportunities required by Section 5 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
“Our democracy is strengthened when voter registration is accessible to all eligible citizens,” said acting assistant Attorney general Tom Wheeler of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division commends the state of New York for working with the Division to ensure that New York’s citizens have the opportunity to register to vote and update their voting information easily and conveniently through motor vehicle agencies, as envisioned by the National Voter Registration Act.”
Under Section 5 of the NVRA, states must allow eligible citizens to register to vote when they renew their driver’s license or other identification documents. According to the department, New York was not fully compliant with the rule.
“The motor voter provision of the NVRA critically supports and enhances our citizens’ access to the democratic process,” said U.S. attorney Rick Hartunian of the Northern District of New York. “I commend our many state officials for their hard work in reaching this agreement and for their commitment to protecting and promoting voting rights in New York.”