The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a settlement agreement with Alabama in connection with the state’s violation of the National Voter Registration Act. The move follows an investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Since the law’s inception 22 years ago, Alabama hasn’t complied with what’s known as the “motor voter” provision, which allows people applying for driver’s licenses to start the voter registration process.
“That law requires the state to make it seamless for people applying for a driver’s license who are also eligible to qualify to vote. It wasn’t in Alabama,” says Joyce White Vance, U.S. Attorney with the Department of Justice, Northern District of Alabama.
Under the agreement, Alabama has seven months to bring its system into full compliance. And, Vance says, the state will attempt to contact people who have obtained a license and didn’t register to vote.
Photo by justgrimes 
