The Voter Purge Protection Act establishes strict federal standards for removing registered voters, prohibits purging based solely on moving within a state, and allows voters to update their address on Election Day.
Alejandro "Alex" Padilla
Senator
CA
The Voter Purge Protection Act aims to safeguard voter registration by preventing states from removing individuals from voter rolls solely because they moved within the state. This legislation establishes strict standards for voter list maintenance, requiring objective proof before removal and allowing registered voters to update their address up to Election Day. Furthermore, it ensures that voters who move within a state can easily cast their ballot by updating their address at the polls.
Voter Purge Protection Act Bans Removing Voters Over In-State Moves, Allows Same-Day Address Updates
If you’ve ever moved apartments across town and then worried about whether you remembered to update your voter registration, this bill is for you. The Voter Purge Protection Act is designed to stop states from kicking people off the voter rolls just because they moved within the state or haven’t voted in a while. Essentially, it raises the bar significantly for states wanting to conduct list maintenance, ensuring that if you were registered, you stay registered unless there’s solid proof you’re ineligible.
The End of ‘Use It or Lose It’ Voting
The biggest change here is how states can manage their voter lists for federal elections. The bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, adding strict rules for removing voters. States can no longer remove you just because you haven't voted in any election, or haven't responded to election mail that wasn't returned as undeliverable. Think of it this way: not voting is no longer proof you’ve moved or died. The state must now have objective and reliable proof—like a death certificate or official record showing you moved permanently out of state—before they can take you off the list (SEC. 3).
This is huge for people who might skip a few local elections but still plan to vote in the presidential race. Under this act, unless the state has that hard evidence, they can’t touch your registration. If they do remove you, they must send a notice within 48 hours explaining the reason and how you can get reinstated, complete with a phone number (SEC. 3).
Moving Across Town? Vote Anyway.
For those of us who move frequently, Section 4 is a game-changer. Currently, if you move from one county to the next in the same state and forget to update your address before the registration deadline, you might be out of luck. This bill introduces state registration portability (SEC. 4). If you move within the same state, you can simply tell an election official your new address—either verbally or in writing—right up until Election Day, and you’ll still be allowed to cast your ballot. You can vote at your new polling place or a central location in your old jurisdiction. This provision effectively removes the penalty for forgetting to update your address when moving domestically, keeping your voting rights intact.
The Administrative Lift for Election Officials
While the protections for voters are clear, the requirements for state election offices are significantly more complex. The bill mandates that within 48 hours of starting any large-scale voter roll cleanup, the state must launch a public awareness campaign to encourage people to check their registration status (SEC. 3). They also have to make sure this notice is accessible to voters with disabilities. Furthermore, the requirement to send a detailed removal notice to every purged voter within 48 hours is a tight turnaround (SEC. 3). For jurisdictions with large populations or those conducting major list maintenance programs, meeting this strict 48-hour deadline could be an intense administrative challenge, likely requiring more resources and staff dedicated to processing and communication.