National Voter Registration Act of 1993
Public Law 103-31 · H.R. 2 · 103rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on May 20, 1993 · Government Operations and Politics
Major law
Sponsor: Rep. Allan Swift (D-WA-2)
Cosponsors (73): Rep. Dick Gephardt, Rep. David Bonior,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 259 yea, 164 nay259–164
- SenateRecorded vote: 62 yea, 36 nay62–36
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 - Requires each State to establish Federal election voter registration procedures by: (1) application made simultaneously with a driver's license application; (2) mail; and (3) application in person at a designated Federal, State, or nongovernmental office, or at the applicant's residential registration site in accordance with State law.
Declares that this Act does not apply to any State that has no voter registration requirement with respect to elections for Federal office and/or in which voters may register at the polling place at the time of a general election for Federal office.
(Sec. 5) Declares that each State motor vehicle license application (or renewal application) shall simultaneously serve as a voter registration application with respect to Federal elections, unless the applicant fails to sign the voter registration application. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) forms and procedures; and (2) transmittal deadlines.
(Sec. 6) Requires each State to use the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Federal Election Commission (Commission). Authorizes a State to develop its own form provided it meets the requirements of this Act.
Authorizes a State to require first-time voters to vote in person, with exceptions for overseas and handicapped or elderly persons.
Authorizes the removal of a voter application in the case of an undelivered (returned) notice of an application made by mail.
(Sec. 7) Requires each State to designate voter registration agencies including: (1) all State offices that provide public assistance, unemployment compensation, or disability services; (2) State or local government offices; (3) Federal and nongovernmental offices (upon their agreement); and (4) armed forces recruitment offices.
(Sec. 8) Requires each State to: (1) assure that any eligible applicant who submits an application by a certain deadline is registered to vote in the election; (2) require the appropriate State election official to notify each applicant of the disposition of the application; (3) provide that the name of a voter may not be removed from the official list of eligible voters except by reason of death, criminal conviction, mental incapacity, change in residence, or voter request; (4) inform applicants of voter eligibility requirements and penalties provided by law for submission of a false voter registration application; (5) conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove from the official lists any voters ineligible by reason of death or change of address; and (6) ensure tht the identity of any voter registration agency where a particular voter registered is not publicly disclosed.
Provides that any State program or activity to protect the integrity of the electoral process by assuring an accurate and current voter registration roll for elections for Federal office shall: (1) be uniform and nondiscriminatory; and (2) not result in the removal of the name of any person from the official list of registered voters for failing to vote.
Prohibits a State from removing the name of a voter from the official list of eligible voters for Federal elections on the grounds that the registrant has moved, unless such registrant: (1) confirms in writing that he or she has changed residence to a place outside the jurisdiction of the registrar; or (2) has failed to respond to a notice from the registrar and has not appeared to vote and, if necessary, correct the address in an election during a certain period.
Provides for the opportunity to vote of a person who has changed address without properly notifying the registrar.
States that in the event of a change of address, for voting purposes, of a voter to another address within the same jurisdiction, the registrar shall correct the voting registration list accordingly. Prohibits such voter's name from being removed from the registry of eligible voters by reason of such change of address, except as provided in this Act.
Requires the United States attorney to give the chief State election official written notice of an offender's felony conviction in Federal district court.
Amends Federal postal rate law to require the Postal Service to make certain lower postal rates available to State or local election officials who certify that a mailing is in furtherance of this Act.
Requires the States to maintain for public disclosure, for a minimum two-year period, all records pertaining to the accuracy and currency of official lists of eligible voters.
(Sec. 9) Directs the Commission to: (1) develop a mail voter registration application form for Federal elections; (2) submit to the Congress not later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year a report assessing the impact of this Act on the administration of Federal elections during the preceding two-year period; and (3) provide information to the States with respect to their responsibilities.
(Sec. 10) Requires each State to designate a chief State election official to coordinate State functions under this Act.
(Sec. 11) Provides a private right of action for an individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act.
(Sec. 12) Imposes criminal penalties upon any person who: (1) intimidates, threatens, or coerces any person for registering or voting or exercising any right under this Act; or (2) deprives or defrauds the inhabitants of a State of a fair and impartially conducted election process.
(Sec. 13) Sets forth the effective date of this Act.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 103rd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 259 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
259 yea164 nay9 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(239)
- Rep. Craig WashingtonD-TX-18
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-9
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35- Rep. Barbara-Rose CollinsD-MI-15
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-11
- Rep. Michael KopetskiD-OR-5
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-16
- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12- Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1- Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-11
- Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
- Rep. Jolene UnsoeldD-WA-3
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7- Rep. Daniel HamburgD-CA-1
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-33- Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
- Rep. Lucien BlackwellD-PA-2
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3- Rep. Floyd FlakeD-NY-6
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-29- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-15
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Cleo FieldsD-LA-4- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-32
- Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-42
- Rep. Mel ReynoldsD-IL-2
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-26
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Kweisi MfumeD-MD-7
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
- Rep. Walter TuckerD-CA-37
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Elizabeth FurseD-OR-1
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14- Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
- Rep. Thomas AndrewsD-ME-1
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-5
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18- Rep. Harry JohnstonD-FL-19
- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
- Rep. David SkaggsD-CO-2
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Jack ReedD-RI-2
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-9- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14- Rep. George HochbruecknerD-NY-1
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-11
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Ron WydenD-OR-3
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9- Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-31
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-2
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4- Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
- Rep. Thomas BarlowD-KY-1
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4- Rep. Karan EnglishD-AZ-6
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Mike KreidlerD-WA-9
- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
- Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
- Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Herbert KleinD-NJ-8
- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-8
- Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
- Rep. Frank TejedaD-TX-28
- Rep. Pete PetersonD-FL-2
- Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3- Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1- Rep. Leslie ByrneD-VA-11
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Lynn SchenkD-CA-49
- Rep. James BacchusD-FL-15
- Rep. Larry LaRoccoD-ID-1
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Maria CantwellD-WA-1
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6- Rep. George SangmeisterD-IL-11
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
- Rep. Karen ShepherdD-UT-2
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36- Rep. Samuel CoppersmithD-AZ-1
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5- Rep. Jill Long ThompsonD-IN-4
- Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
- Rep. Marjorie Margolies-MezvinskyD-PA-13
- Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND- Rep. David MannD-OH-1
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-4- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Tim JohnsonD-SD- Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Peter HoaglandD-NE-2
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Jim ChapmanD-TX-1
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Eric FingerhutD-OH-19
- Rep. James BilbrayD-NV-1
- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
- Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-19
- Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. Blanche LincolnD-AR-1
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6- Rep. Don JohnsonD-GA-10
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12- Rep. Gregory LaughlinD-TX-14
- Rep. Lewis PayneD-VA-5
- Rep. Richard SwettD-NH-2
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11- Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
- Rep. Martin LancasterD-NC-3
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
- Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. William SarpaliusD-TX-13
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Glenn PoshardD-IL-19
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-10
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-20
- Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4- Rep. Pete GerenD-TX-12
- Rep. Mike ParkerD-MS-4
- Rep. Timothy PennyD-MN-1
- Rep. William OrtonD-UT-3
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5
Republicans who voted yea(20)
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-19
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21- Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25- Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
- Rep. Rick SantorumR-PA-18
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6- Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
- Rep. Martin HokeR-OH-10
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 149 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Committee on House Administration · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Elections Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 60 actions.
- May 20, 1993Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-31.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 18, 1993PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 11, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 62-36. Record Vote No: 118.Senate roll call 118
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 62-36. Record Vote No: 118.Senate roll call 118
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Cloture on the conference report on H.R.2 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 63-37. Record Vote No: 117.Senate roll call 117
- May 7, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Second cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R.2 presented in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R.2 presented in Senate.
- May 6, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in Senate.
- May 5, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by recorded vote: 259 - 164 (Roll no. 154).House roll call 154
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by recorded vote: 259 - 164 (Roll no. 154).House roll call 154
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to recommit with instructions to conference committee Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 170 - 253 (Roll no. 153).House roll call 153
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Livingston moved to recommit with instructions to the conference committee.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Swift brought up conference report H. Rept. 103-66 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 163.
- FloorFloor · RECOMMIT WITH INSTRUCTIONS - The motion seeks to require the managers of the conference on the part of the House to include in their report the provision found in Section 13 of the Senate amendment. Section 13 provides that nothing in this Act shall prevent a State from requirin…
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report.
- FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 163 passed House.
- May 4, 1993FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 163 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 2. During consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2, points of order against the conference report for failure to comply with clause 3 of r…
- Apr 28, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 103-66 filed.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 103-66 filed.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Apr 2, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference held.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conference held.
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.

























