Source: United States Department of Justice
The Justice Department announced that the State of Oklahoma has taken corrective action regarding driver’s license and ID card applications and forms that previously did not comply with Section 5 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).
Section 5 of the NVRA, also known as the motor voter provision, requires that all applications for a driver’s license or state ID — including online renewal applications — provide an opportunity to register to vote or to update an existing voter registration. The NVRA also requires that any paper or online change of address form for a driver’s license or state ID automatically update the address on voter registration records, unless a voter indicates that the change is not for voting purposes.
“An inclusive democracy must provide all eligible voters access to the full range of voter registration opportunities required by law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We encourage states and jurisdictions across the country to ensure that they are making voter registration opportunities fully and equally accessible at DMVs and other social services agencies, both in person and online. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring full compliance with the NVRA.”
Earlier this year, the Justice Department told the state that its online renewal applications for driver’s licenses and state ID cards did not provide the required opportunity to register or update an existing voter registration record. The state’s online change of address form also could not update voter registration records. The department met with state officials, who acted to correct these omissions, along with similar ones on paper forms. The state also committed to notifying voters affected by these lapses. Additionally, the state is providing instructions so that eligible citizens not currently registered to vote at the address found in their driver’s license or ID card records can register or update outdated registration records.
The department will continue to monitor the implementation of these changes and this remedial program, and it welcomes feedback from the public. Complaints about discriminatory practices may be reported through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by calling (800) 253-3931.
More information about the NVRA and about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.