Automatic voter registration (AVR) registers eligible citizens to vote when they deal with a state agency, usually the DMV, unless they decline. The agency checks eligibility from documents it already collects, sends the information electronically to election officials, and gives the person a chance to opt out, either on the spot or by mail afterward. About two dozen states and Washington, D.C. use some form of it.
How does automatic voter registration work, step by step? #
Traditional registration is opt-in: you find a form, fill it out and submit it. AVR flips the default so registration happens unless you say no.
1. You interact with a participating agency #
Most often that’s getting or renewing a driver’s license or state ID at the DMV. Some states also use agencies such as Medicaid offices, health insurance exchanges or public universities.
2. The agency checks eligibility #
To register you must be a US citizen, a resident of the state, and at least 18 by Election Day (some states pre-register 16- and 17-year-olds). The agency relies on the documents presented, such as a US birth certificate, passport or naturalization papers. People who present documents showing they aren’t citizens, such as a green card, aren’t passed to election officials.
3. The data goes to election officials electronically #
Name, address, date of birth and a digital signature are sent securely to the state or county election office. That removes the typos and unreadable handwriting of paper forms.
4. You get a chance to opt out #
How that works depends on the state’s model, covered next.
5. Updates keep your record current #
When you move and update your license address, many AVR states update your voter registration too. That’s one of the biggest practical benefits, since moving is the most common reason people’s registrations go stale.
What’s the difference between front-end and back-end AVR? #
| Front-end | Back-end | |
|---|---|---|
| When you can decline | During the agency transaction | After the transaction, usually by mail |
| How it works | The form or screen asks if you want to decline; if you don’t, you’re registered | The agency sends eligible people’s data automatically; officials mail a notice with a deadline to opt out |
| Effect | Registers fewer people than back-end, more than opt-in | Registers the most people, since doing nothing means you’re registered |
| Example | Several states added it through their DMV forms | Oregon, the first AVR state, mails a notice with a return card |
The Movement Advancement Project counted 11 states plus D.C. using back-end systems and 13 using front-end systems as of 2024 (MAP). The distinction matters because defaults are powerful: when doing nothing gets you registered, registration rates jump.
Which states have automatic voter registration? #
Oregon was first, passing AVR in 2015 and starting in 2016. The Brennan Center’s list includes, by year adopted:
- 2015–2016: Oregon, California, West Virginia, Vermont, Georgia, Alaska, Washington, D.C.
- 2017–2018: Colorado, Rhode Island, Illinois, Washington, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Nevada, Michigan
- 2019–2021: Maine, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Delaware
- 2023: Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania
Adoption has come from both parties’ states, through legislation, ballot measures (Alaska, Michigan and Nevada) and administrative action (Georgia and Pennsylvania). Implementation dates often lag adoption by a year or more, so a state being on this list doesn’t mean every agency is live. Check your state election office for how it works where you live.
Does automatic voter registration increase turnout? #
It clearly increases registration. Turnout effects are smaller and harder to measure, because registering someone doesn’t make them vote. Studies generally find a modest positive effect on turnout, strongest among younger voters and people who move often, since they’re the ones most likely to fall off the rolls. Competitive races, easy access to ballots and mobilization still matter more for whether registered people actually vote. Our explainer on why midterm turnout is lower covers the other factors.
What are the arguments for and against AVR? #
Supporters argue:
- More eligible people registered, especially those who move often.
- More accurate rolls, because address changes flow through automatically. That can mean fewer problems at the polls and fewer provisional ballots.
- Lower costs, since electronic records are cheaper to process than paper forms.
- Fewer errors, since data comes from verified agency records instead of handwriting.
Critics argue:
- Registration should be a deliberate choice, not a default.
- Agency errors can register ineligible people. There have been documented cases of noncitizens being registered through DMV processing mistakes, usually in small numbers, and critics say even small numbers matter. Supporters point to the citizenship screens and say errors get caught and removed.
- Privacy. Some object to agencies sharing personal data with election offices without an explicit request.
- Voter-roll maintenance can get harder if rolls grow with people who never vote. Our explainer on how states clean voter rolls covers how states remove outdated records.
Research on partisan effects has generally found AVR doesn’t clearly help either party. Many newly registered people sign up as unaffiliated.
How is AVR different from same-day registration? #
AVR registers you during an unrelated agency visit, often long before an election. Same-day registration lets you register and vote at the same time, during early voting or on Election Day. Many states have both; others have one or neither.
What should you do before November 3, 2026? #
Even in an AVR state, check your registration, especially if you moved, changed your name, or haven’t had a DMV transaction recently. Most states have an online lookup, and vote.gov links to each one. Registration deadlines in non-same-day states are often two to four weeks before Election Day.
If you want a nudge as November approaches, Election Tracker, our free iPhone app, can schedule reminders at 30 days, a week, a day before and on Election Day, set on your phone with no account. It won’t register you, but the 30-day reminder arrives in time to check. Our guide to setting election reminders on iPhone covers adding your state’s registration deadline too.
Frequently asked questions #
Does automatic voter registration register noncitizens? #
It’s designed not to. Agencies pass along only people whose documents show citizenship, and people presenting noncitizen documents are screened out. Processing errors have occasionally registered ineligible people, and states remove those records when found.
Can I opt out of automatic voter registration? #
Yes. In front-end states you decline during the transaction. In back-end states you return the opt-out notice by the deadline. You can also ask your local election office to cancel a registration at any time.
Does AVR register me with a political party? #
Usually not. Most AVR states register people as unaffiliated unless they choose a party. In states with closed primaries, that can matter, so update your party affiliation if you want to vote in a party’s primary.
How is AVR different from “motor voter”? #
The 1993 National Voter Registration Act (“motor voter”) requires DMVs to offer registration, which you have to opt into. AVR makes registration the default and asks you to opt out.