Anited States Senate WASHINGTON, OC 20810 October 5, 2016 Ms. Vanita Gupta Prineipal Deputy Assistant Attorney General US. Department of Justice - Civil Rights Di 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ‘Washington, DC 20530-0001 Dear Ms. Guts \We are writing to make you aware of an issue that has the potential fo disenfranchise thousands of Americas this [Noveiber and seck your assistance in preventing sch an outcome. Dita a calendar coincidence, a mimiber of sate voter registration deadlines fail to meet the threshold established by the National Vote Registration Act (NRA). With the registration deadlines quickly approaching, we cannot stand by and allow eligible American citizens tobe disenfranchised hoeause state officials are reusing t follow Tong established Federal aw. Last week we wrote to the Election Assistance Commission, requesting they work withthe appropriate sate chief election officals of this situation inthe hope that it would be quickly and easily remedied. In that etter we wrote: ‘As you know, this year the federal general lection will be ld on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, The NVRA, provides that a Sti shall ensue hat a votorsrgistared ifthe valid voter registration form of the applicant is ostinarked not ltr than the lesser of 30 days, or the period provided by State law, before the date ofthe eleetion."{S2 USC §20507(a(1)(B)). Thirty (30) days before Elston Day is Sunday, October Oth which isa day out postal service. Adltionaly, this year Columbus Day is observed on Monday, October 10% and so postal Service i also unavailable on that day. AS uresul the fst available day to have voter reistation application Postmarked that is “ot ltr” than 30 days before the election is Tuesday, October 11,2016, Unfortunately, a umber of states have posted their voter registration (or muil voter registration) deadline before October 11 Those states include: Alaska (10/); Arizona (10/10); Arkansas (10/10); Hawali (10/10); Mississippi (10/8; Rhode Island (10/9; South Carolina (10/8; Utah (10/10); and Washington (10/10), ‘After sending the EAC letter, we leamed that Nevada, despite having later deadline for in-person and online registration, also maintains a mail voter registration deadline of October 8, 2016, ‘We have als heal about a number of state responses from the BAC and through the media. We applaud Utah for recognizing ths issue and moving their mail veer registration dealin to October 11" in order to best serve the voters of that state, Additionally, we have head that Washington and Arkansas intend to accept registrations postmarked on October i1, 2016. Unfortunately, news repos have indicated tha states such as Arizona and Alaska are refusing to aveept voter registrations with a October 11 postmark forthe November election, Inthe case of Arizona, the Secretary's real isa change from the policy followed during the 2012 ection aeording to the Secretary's own website, Additionally, according to news repr, certain states are claiming the stator deadline is inapplicable to states that do not observe Columbus Day. These sate officials fil to recognize thatthe United States Portal Service avr observe Columbus Day holiday, which means mail wll not be processed om that day. That fat ‘combined wit the tational pos office closure on Sunday creates a scenario where the impact of any sate posting a ‘ote registration deadline prior to October 11 iso require that American citizens mail their vote registration application more than 30 days before the November election ‘We donot believe tis is permited by the NVRA and seek your assistance in enforcing ths provision to protec the right to vot of eligible American etzens. Thank you in advance for you attention to this important mate. Please keep us apprise of your ations to resolve this problem Sincerely, Ch SL File ath Thales E, Schumer Patrick J United States Senator Ute Siac Str