Support H.R. 55 to Repeal the National Voter Registration Act
Legislative Alerts
U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) has introduced legislation to repeal the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), also known as the "Motor Voter" Act.
Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators
It is imperative that Congress support this legislation and restore election authority to the States. Urge your state U.S. Representative to enforce the U.S. Constitution, restore the balance of power between the federal and state governments, and remove "Motor Voter" election regulations by supporting H.R. 55.
Why it Matters
U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) has introduced legislation to repeal the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), also known as the “Motor Voter” Act. The NVRA has fundamentally compromised the integrity of our electoral system by requiring states to register voters without proof of citizenship. House Resolution No. 55 (H.R. 55) seeks to repeal this unconstitutional legislation, and currently has one cosponsor, U.S. Representative Scott Perry (R-Pa.):
SECTION 1. REPEAL OF NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is repealed.
The NVRA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton with the primary aim of increasing voter registration, making the election process “more accessible to the general public,” and boosting election participation among groups that are “historically underrepresented.”
The act requires states to offer voter registration when individuals apply for or renew a driver’s license at Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs). It also mandates that voter registration forms be available at state-funded offices providing public assistance, unemployment compensation, or services for the disabled, thus expanding standard voter registration.
States are restricted from effectively managing their voter registration lists due to NVRA, leading to voter rolls that are outdated and inaccurate, with duplicate voter registrations due to limitations on how they can “clean up” voter lists. This inefficiency not only complicates the voting process, but increases the possibility of voter fraud. H.R. 55 would remove these restrictions on states, allowing for better maintenance of voter rolls and ensuring only eligible voters are registered.
Article I, Section 4; Article I, Section 8; and the 10th Amendment clarify the division of power between federal and state governments, specifically limiting Congress’ power to congressional elections. H.R. 55 is crucial to return authority to the states to administer their elections in accordance with the Constitution.
According to Article I, Section 4, Congress can only regulate the times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, and this power is to be exercised on a case-by-case basis. This section does not grant federal authority over state or local elections.
Additionally, Article I, Section 8 lists the enumerated powers of Congress, with no mention of regulating state or local elections. The 10th Amendment explicitly states that powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people. Therefore, the administration of elections at the state and local levels, including how states manage voter registration and identification through agencies like DMVs, should fall under the authority of the states.
The damage to election integrity caused by the NVRA ultimately subverts the fundamental principles of our Constitutional Republic, transferring authority from state governments to federal regulation over elections. As Representative Biggs noted in a press release, “Motor Voter” requirements threaten the integrity of our elections:
Election integrity is central to the bedrock of our constitutional republic. Currently, though federal law requires an individual to be a U.S. citizen to vote in federal elections, it requires states to accept merely a signed attestation from an individual that he or she is a U.S. citizen – without any further proof of citizenship. This lax procedure, to register individuals to vote in states that have strict citizenship requirements for voter registration, is a threat to the integrity of our elections.
H.R. 55 seeks to restore electoral integrity and state sovereignty by returning the responsibility of voter registration to the states. The NVRA imposes a federal one-size-fits-all approach, undermining the principle of federalism envisioned by the Founding Fathers and enshrined in the Constitution.
Repealing the NVRA would also abolish unconstitutional voter registration practices that have been in place for over three decades. Representative Biggs’ legislation would strengthen the principles of our Republic, transferring authority back to the states, leading to more efficient and secure elections.
It’s crucial for Congress to restore election integrity by repealing unconstitutional federal election laws. Urge your U.S. representative and senator to do this by supporting and enacting H.R. 55.