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R46943 — Voter Registration Records and List Maintenance for Federal Elections

Reports · published 2026-05-19 · v8 · Active · crsreports.congress.gov ↗

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Authors
Sarah J. Eckman
Report id
R46943
Summary

Each state except North Dakota requires voter registration as a prerequisite for voting in federal elections. The accuracy of voter registration records is often considered important for election administration, as these records are typically used to create poll books (lists of eligible voters) or otherwise assess the eligibility of individuals to cast a ballot in an election. This information can help election officials with other administrative purposes, such as preparing sufficient election materials or appropriately distributing resources (such as poll workers, ballots, and equipment) across voting sites within a jurisdiction. The data contained in voter registration records also enable election officials to contact prospective voters with relevant election information, such as updates or notifications about election dates, polling place locations, or methods of casting a ballot. States generally determine most of their own voter registration practices, subject to certain federal statutory requirements, such as those found in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). For state election officials, updating and maintaining a HAVA-required computerized, statewide voter registration list is an ongoing element of voter registration administration. This list is commonly referred to as a state’s voter registration database (VRDB). Voter registration records management involves a series of processes, and the particular details of how states update and maintain VRDBs vary by state. The following description provides a broad overview of general practices common across many states, based, in part, on requirements or procedures outlined in NVRA and HAVA. Typically, election officials receive new and updated information about individual voters on an ongoing basis from a variety of sources, including the individuals themselves or records provided by certain agencies (e.g., the state department of motor vehicles [DMV]) or other partnering entities. Election officials then take steps to verify this information before it becomes a part of the voter’s registration record in the VRDB by, for example, checking other administrative records or requesting additional information from the applicant. Periodically, state election officials also check the VRDB for records that may be incorrect or outdated for reasons such as an individual’s request for removal, change of address, death, or (as provided by state law) criminal conviction or mental incapacity. VRDB records are often compared with data from other sources to help identify potentially ineligible voters; this could include various agency records, other states’ voter records, or additional resources, as permitted under state law and practice. Before a voter is removed from the VRDB, however, state election officials generally undertake steps to notify the voter and provide the individual with an opportunity to correct his or her record. Voter removal processes generally must meet standards of uniformity and nondiscrimination set forth in NVRA and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). Congress has addressed certain parameters for state VRDB records and list maintenance in federal elections through provisions in NVRA and HAVA, while allowing states flexibility and discretion to determine a number of related administrative elements. Voter registration records and list maintenance continue to be of ongoing congressional interest from a variety of perspectives, including improving efficiencies in election administration. Voter list accuracy, more generally, is related to aspects of election integrity, as verified, up-to-date voter information can help prevent ineligible individuals from voting or prevent eligible voters from voting multiple times in an election. List maintenance or voter removal practices, however, may also raise concerns about voter access and the ability of eligible registered voters to maintain their eligibility status. Ensuring cybersecurity for VRDBs is also important, as they store a variety of personally identifiable information on individuals and may also be a target for those who seek to obtain personal data or interfere in an election. Prior to the 2016 election, for example, foreign actors attempted to access or accessed voter registration systems in some states.

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