DMV Voter Registration Drives Get New Guidance Ahead of 2026 Midterms

National Voter Registration Day on September 16 is prompting local organizers across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to follow updated voter registration drive guidelines. Each jurisdiction has distinct requirements: D.C. requires applications 21 days before Election Day with no mandatory training, Maryland requires forms returned within five days and mandatory training for larger drives, and Virginia requires applications 11 days before election with annual training and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Fair Elections Center and Nonprofit VOTE have released updated guides to help organizations navigate these jurisdiction-specific regulations, emphasizing that voter registration support should be a nonpartisan effort focused on increasing democratic participation.