Voter Lists and Databases
Although many barriers to voting—like property requirements, literacy tests, and poll taxes—are no longer constitutional, for many eligible citizens, voter registration continues to be a significant obstacle. More than a quarter of voting-age Americans are not registered and thus cannot vote. The Brennan Center works to promote fair voter registration and voter list policies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and are not unduly barred by administrative and other barriers.
Van Hollen v. Government Accountability Board
Wisconsin AG, J.B. Van Hollen, claims the state’s Government Accountability Board(GAB) is incompliant with HAVA by not retroactively running database matches and purging voters from registration rolls.
A lawsuit filled by the Brennan Center and other voting rights advocates challenging Florida’s requirement that the driver’s license or Social Security number on a registration form be verified before a voter can be registered to vote.
Washington Association of Churches v. Reed
The Brennan Center has resolved the first lawsuit in the country concerning a new procedure to “match” voter information from one source to another.
After A Surge in Registration, A Surge in Suppression
To most, the surge in registration is evidence of a renewed public interest in participating in our democracy. Others, unfortunately, see the prospect of higher voter turnout as a threat—and are working to keep voters from registering and voting…
Former State House Member Currently Preparing to Return to Iraq Purged from MT Voter Lists
Former Rep. Kevin Furey, a First Lt. in the Army Reserves, is presently in New Jersey preparing to return to Iraq, and he may not get to vote....
Updated—Sen. Feinstein sends letter asking for delay. EAC Commissioner does as well. Plans by the Social Security Administration to shut down its databases for maintenance could keep many first-time voters from the polls.
Illustrations by Risko
Montana Registration Challenges are Error-Prone and Inconsistent with State & Federal Law
In a three-page letter submitted to Secretary of State Brad Johnson, the Brennan Center explains that the large scale challenges, filed by the Montana Republican Party just a month before the 2008 general election, could deprive thousands of eligible Montana residents from voting and having their ballot counted in November.
Study Finds States Purging Millions of Voters in Secret, Often Erroneously
Brennan Center reveals wild inconsistencies in maintenance of voter registration lists—issues public records requests in 12 states with Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Florida To Enforce Restrictive No-Match No-Vote
Today voting rights advocates expressed alarm over the Secretary of State’s September 8th decision to enforce the state’s “no-match, no-vote” law, a voter registration law that previously blocked more than 16,000 eligible Florida citizens from registering to vote, through no fault of their own, and could disenfranchise tens of thousands more voters in November.
Letter to Wisconsin Government Accountability Board re HAVA Checks and Provisional Ballots
Letter to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board regarding HAVA checks and provisional ballots
Letter to Wisconsin Government Accountability Board re Proposed Emergency Rule
Letter to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board regarding a proposed emergency rule for provisional ballots and failed HAVA checks.
Law Risks Voiding Legitimate Ballots
“No match-no vote” law does not do what Florida’s Governor says it does.
Voter Purges | CBS Evening News
Michael Waldman appears on CBS Evening news to discuss Voter Purges, a Brennan Center report.
GRIT tv | Wendy Weiser, Voting in the US
Wendy Weiser discusses registration deadlines and the many obstacles to voting in the United States.