U.S. Department of Justice Reaches Voter Registration Agreement With Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an agreement with the state of Alaska over alleged violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The agreement will make it easier for Alaskans to register to vote when they use the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Section 5 of the NVRA requires states to provide voter registration opportunities when people apply for or renew their driver’s licenses or other IDs at the state’s motor vehicle offices. In an investigation, however, the Department found that Alaska was not consistently giving Alaskans these sorts of opportunities. The Department also found that Alaska was not using change-of-address forms submitted to the DMV to update voter registrations.
Under the terms of the agreement, Alaska will ensure all applications for driver’s licenses and other IDs will include the opportunity to register to vote. Likewise, change-of-address information submitted to the state will be used to update voter registrations unless a voter declines. “This agreement is part of our commitment to ensuring that eligible voters across Alaska have access to voter registration opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.