WASHINGTON, DC – The League of Women Voters of the United States commends recent actions by several federal agencies under the Voting Access Executive Order which directs federal agencies to provide all eligible voters, regardless of political party, access to voter registration applications and reliable voter information when they engage with federal agencies. The actions announced by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the General Services Administration (GSA) and Elections Assistance Commission (EAC) are taking a significant step toward strengthening our democracy.
By placing access to voter registration information within the federal application for health coverage, HHS and CMS, will not only simplify the voter registration process but also ensure that a broader segment of eligible voters, particularly those who may experience barriers to civic participation, have access to this critical civic information. This shift also reflects HHS and CMS recognizing the relationship between civic participation and positive health outcomes. It will make it easier for citizens to take an active role in shaping their futures—both in terms of their health and their democratic participation.
Additionally, the modernizations to vote.gov that GSA and EAC announced will allow eligible voters in 46 states and the District of Columbia to fill out a voter registration application with only a few prompts. The new tool is also accessible for people with vision impairment and more user-friendly for all eligible Americans and is also available in 19 languages. The new feature is an important step as eligible voters register for this fall’s election.
Every citizen should have a voice in our democracy, and we commend the work being done by HHS, CMS, GSA and the EAC to remove significant barriers that may have prevented eligible Americans from making their voices heard. These announcements are vital to ensuring that all eligible voters, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to register to vote and participate fully in our nation’s democratic processes.
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