Automatic voter registration is a policy that modernizes the voter registration process by automatically registering eligible voters through their interactions with state agencies, most commonly when people apply for or renew their driver’s licenses. Automatic voter registration helps to make sure that every eligible voter has access to vote, as well as strengthening the security and accuracy of our election systems. Our scoring distinguishes between front-end and back-end AVR; in front-end AVR systems the voter is given an opportunity to opt-out of being registered at the time of the relevant agency transaction, while in back-end systems designated agencies such as state DMVS systematically send information from relevant transactions to state election authorities. The voter is then automatically registered (or registered in pending status) before being given an opportunity to opt-out at a later time, usually through the mail.
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State has back-end automatic voter registration
(8 states)
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State has front-end automatic voter registration
(16 states + D.C.)
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State does not have automatic voter registration
(26 states)
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Democracy Maps: Automatic Voter Registration." https://www.mapresearch.org/democracy-maps/automatic_voter_registration. Accessed 04/19/2024
Breakdown by Population
*Note: These percentages reflect the voting-eligible population, as reported by the United States Election Project.
11 % of voting-eligible population lives in states that have back-end automatic voter registration
42 % of the population lives in states that have front end automatic voter registration
47 % of voting-eligible population lives in states that do not have automatic voter registration
