Voter Registration

The National Voter Registration Act

Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 - also known as the "NVRA" or the "Motor Voter Act" - to enhance voting opportunities for every American. Section 7 of the act requires states to offer voter registration opportunities at all offices that provide public assistance and all offices that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities. As designated by the Ohio Legislature, at each application, reapplication or address change for the Ohio Works First, Disability Financial Assistance, Food Assistance, Medicaid, and Prevention, Retention and Contingency programs, applicants must be asked whether they would like to register to vote and given an NVRA Notice of Rights. If they answer "yes," they must be provided with a voter registration form.

Agencies must provide the same level of assistance in completing the form as they would for any other program. They must then forward the completed application to the appropriate state or local election official within a period of not more than five days.