CERA Study Guide 2026

The NVRA requires states to retain voter registration records for at least 22 months after a federal election.

Consent decrees are court-ordered agreements that resolve legal disputes, often in election litigation concerning voting rights or election administration. They typically outline specific actions or reforms that election jurisdictions must undertake to remedy past violations and ensure future compliance with election laws. These decrees are crucial for enforcing voting rights and improving election practices without prolonged litigation.

One of the significant challenges of voter list maintenance is the delicate balance between removing outdated or duplicate entries and ensuring no eligible voter is wrongfully disenfranchised. Election officials must employ careful processes to identify inactive or ineligible voters while providing proper notice and opportunities for voters to confirm their eligibility. This prevents legitimate voters from being removed from the rolls incorrectly.

Signature verification compares the envelope signature to the voter's registration record signature to confirm the ballot was returned by the legitimate voter.

A cure process gives voters the opportunity to fix deficiencies — such as a missing or mismatched signature — so their ballot can be counted.

Emergency absentee provisions allow voters who experience a sudden illness or disability near Election Day to request a ballot even after the standard deadline has passed.