Feb. 29, Feature - A new study by two voting rights watchdog groups shows that many states failing to provide low income people the opportunity to register to vote. And it's disenfranchising millions the study says. Yanmei Xie has the story.

At a public services office near Washington DC, several dozen people are applying for food stamps or Medicaid. They sit on foldout chairs in the waiting area. A big white banner hangs from the ceiling, asking "Are you registered to vote?" Office manager Gail Johnson says voter registration has always been available here.

"There are applications there, and when they see the individual case managers, they check whether they want to register to vote or not. They have the option."

Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act in 1993. It requires states to register voters at welfare offices. However, many such locations are neglecting the law. They are not providing registration forms onsite or don't have trained staff to register voters. That's according to a study by the voting rights advocacy group Project Vote. Doug Hess, a coauthor of the report, says such negligence has driven down the registration rate among low-income citizens.

"In 1995-96, when the law was first implemented, these programs registered 2.6 million people. In 2005-06, the last year for which we have data, these programs registered only about 500,000 people."

Project Vote surveyed social services agencies in six Ohio counties. Only one has voter registration forms on site. Investigations in seven other states revealed similar problems. Theoretically, people can register online or at motor vehicle offices. But for low income citizens who don't own computers or cars, Hess says, welfare offices are often the only opportunity.

"I think more recently states have revamped their programs so this aspect of the program just fell to the way side."

Project Vote has sued Ohio, and sent letters to other states notifying them of the registration problems. Some have responded saying they want to improve. Others will face lawsuits if they don't respond in three months. Hess notes that some of these states, such as Ohio, Missouri and Florida have been crucial swing states in past elections.

"The number of people these programs could register could easily tip the balance of election in some states. That gives low income people the power to really influence elections and have some significant power politically in this country."

Project Vote has pressed the Department of Justice to force the states to comply with federal voter registration law, but Hess says the Department refused to act.