U.S. Code » Title 52 » Subtitle Subtitle II— Voting Assistance and Election Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 205— NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION

52 U.S.C. § 20503

National procedures for voter registration for elections for Federal office

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(a) In generalExcept as provided in subsection (b), notwithstanding any other Federal or State law, in addition to any other method of voter registration provided for under State law, each State shall establish procedures to register to vote in elections for Federal office—(1) by application made simultaneously with an application for a motor vehicle driver’s license pursuant to section 20504 of this title;(2) by mail application pursuant to section 20505 of this title; and(3) by application in person—(A) at the appropriate registration site designated with respect to the residence of the applicant in accordance with State law; and(B) at a Federal, State, or nongovernmental office designated under section 20506 of this title.(b) Nonapplicability to certain StatesThis chapter does not apply to a State described in either or both of the following paragraphs:(1) A State in which, under law that is in effect continuously on and after August 1, 1994, there is no voter registration requirement for any voter in the State with respect to an election for Federal office.(2) A State in which, under law that is in effect continuously on and after August 1, 1994, or that was enacted on or prior to August 1, 1994, and by its terms is to come into effect upon the enactment of this chapter, so long as that law remains in effect, all voters in the State may register to vote at the polling place at the time of voting in a general election for Federal office.(Pub. L. 103–31, § 4, May 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 78; Pub. L. 104–91, title I, § 101(a), Jan. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 11, amended Pub. L. 104–99, title II, § 211, Jan. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 37.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

Upon the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 103–31, which was approved May 20, 1993.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1973gg–2 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–91 is based on section 116(a) of H.R. 2076, One Hundred Fourth Congress, as passed by the House of Representatives on Dec. 6, 1995, which was enacted into law by Pub. L. 104–91.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–91, as amended by Pub. L. 104–99, substituted “August 1, 1994” for “March 11, 1993” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 1996 Amendment

Section 116(b) of H.R. 2076, One Hundred Fourth Congress, as passed by the House of Representatives on Dec. 6, 1995, and as enacted into law by Pub. L. 104–91, title I, § 101(a), Jan. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 11, as amended by Pub. L. 104–99, title II, § 211, Jan. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 37, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 [Pub. L. 103–31, see Tables for classification].”

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 2014–2026 · leading case: League of Women Voters v. Brian Newby, 838 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2016).
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League of Women Voters v. Brian Newby, 838 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2016). · cites it 2× “3 The NVRA directs each state to “accept and use” a federally prescribed national mail voter registration form, often called “the Federal Form.”
United States v. Louisiana, 196 F. Supp. 3d 612 (M.D. La. 2016). · cites it 11× “52 U.S.C. § 20503 ; Gonzalez, 677 F.3d at 394 ; Broyles v.”
Action NC v. Strach, 216 F. Supp. 3d 597 (M.D.N.C. 2016). · cites it 4× “Further, the NVRA sets forth detailed requirements regarding voter registration through each of the following three methods: Section 5 covers voter registration in connection with certain state motor vehicle transactions, often referred to as “motor voter” registration; Section…”
Stringer v. Pablos, 320 F. Supp. 3d 862 (W.D. Tex. 2018). · cites it 6× “52 U.S.C. § 20503 (emphasis added). Section 20504 specifically describes the requirements for a simultaneous application for voter registration and motor vehicle driver's license: (a) In general (1) Each State motor vehicle driver's license application ( including any renewal…”
Colon-Marrero v. Garcia-Velez, 813 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2016). “HAVA’s requirements include creation of a “[cjomputerized statewide voter registration list” to "ensure that voter registration records in the State are accurate and are updated regularly.” 52 U.S.C. § 21083 (a), (a)(4).”
Proj. Vote, Inc. v. Kemp, 208 F. Supp. 3d 1320 (N.D. Ga. 2016). “52 U.S.C. § 20503 (a)(1)—(3). Section 7 defines VRAs and includes the requirement that States designate as VRAs “all offices in the State that provide public assistance” and “all offices in the State that provide State-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to…”
Timothy Zignego v. Wisconsin Elections Comm'n, 2021 WI 32 (Wis. 2021). “52 U.S.C. § 20503 (b)(2); Wis. Stat. § 6.”
True the Vote v. Hosemann, 43 F. Supp. 3d 693 (S.D. Miss. 2014). “The new relevant provisions of the NVRA are recodified as follows: Original Codification_Post-Sept.”
Nearman/Miller v. Rosenblum, 371 P.3d 1186 (Or. 2016). “52 USC § 20503 (a). To accomplish those objectives, the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is required to develop, in conjunction with the states, a “federal mail voter registration application form.”
League of Women Voters of the United States v. Newby, 195 F. Supp. 3d 80 (D.D.C. 2016). “The NVRA's requirements apply to 44 states—including Kansas, Georgia, and Alabama and the District of Columbia. Six states are exempt from the NVRA by virtue of maintaining no registration requirements for federal elections or by continuously providing for ■ election-day…”
Stringer v. Pablos, 274 F. Supp. 3d 588 (W.D. Tex. 2017). · cites it 2× “52 U.S.C. §§ 20503 (a)(1) and 20504(e)(1) (2012).”
Greater Birmingham Ministries v. Sec'y of State for the State of Alabama, 105 F.4th 1324 (11th Cir. 2024). “”); see also 52 U.S.C. § 20503 (a) (establishing voter registration procedures and standards, but allowing state discretion in implementation); id.”
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