1. (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), notwithstanding any other Federal or State law, in addition to any other method of voter registration provided for under State law, each State shall establish procedures to register to vote in elections for Federal office—

   1. (1) by application made simultaneously with an application for a motor vehicle driver’s license pursuant to section 20504 of this title;
   2. (2) by mail application pursuant to section 20505 of this title; and

   3. (3) by application in person—

      1. (A) at the appropriate registration site designated with respect to the residence of the applicant in accordance with State law; and
      2. (B) at a Federal, State, or nongovernmental office designated under section 20506 of this title.

2. (b) Nonapplicability to certain States This chapter does not apply to a State described in either or both of the following paragraphs:

   1. (1) A State in which, under law that is in effect continuously on and after August 1, 1994, there is no voter registration requirement for any voter in the State with respect to an election for Federal office.
   2. (2) A State in which, under law that is in effect continuously on and after August 1, 1994, or that was enacted on or prior to August 1, 1994, and by its terms is to come into effect upon the enactment of this chapter, so long as that law remains in effect, all voters in the State may register to vote at the polling place at the time of voting in a general election for Federal office.

(Pub. L. 103–31, § 4, May 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 78; Pub. L. 104–91, title I, § 101(a), Jan. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 11, amended Pub. L. 104–99, title II, § 211, Jan. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 37.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Upon the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 103–31, which was approved May 20, 1993.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1973gg–2 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–91 is based on section 116(a) of H.R. 2076, One Hundred Fourth Congress, as passed by the House of Representatives on Dec. 6, 1995, which was enacted into law by Pub. L. 104–91.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–91, as amended by Pub. L. 104–99, substituted “August 1, 1994” for “March 11, 1993” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Section 116(b) of H.R. 2076, One Hundred Fourth Congress, as passed by the House of Representatives on Dec. 6, 1995, and as enacted into law by Pub. L. 104–91, title I, § 101(a), Jan. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 11, as amended by Pub. L. 104–99, title II, § 211, Jan. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 37, provided that:

“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 [

Pub. L. 103–31, see Tables for classification].”