US Department of Labor issues guidance to states, territories to designate American Job Centers as voter registration agencies

WASHINGTON – In a first-of-its-kind action, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued guidance to all 50 states and the nation’s territories encouraging them to designate more than 2,300 locally operated American Job Centers as voter registration agencies under the National Voter Registration Act.

The guidance from the department’s Employment and Training Administration, aligns with President Biden’s Executive Order 14019, Promoting Access to Voting.

The guidance also affirms that many partners that operate programs and services with American Job Centers can engage in voter registration efforts with their participants, such as hosting nonpartisan organizations onsite to conduct voter outreach activities. Eligible partners include:

• WIOA Title I Youth Programs 
• YouthBuild Programs
• Indian and Native America Programs 
• National Farmworker Jobs Programs
• Reentry Employment Opportunities Programs
• Job Corps Operators

The guidance also affirms that American Job Centers, their websites and their partners’ websites can provide basic voting information – including information from nonpartisan sources like vote.gov or state election agencies – whether or not they are voter registration agencies.

With locations in every state, American Job Centers provide resources for various demographics – including young adults, workers who have lost their jobs, service members returning to the workforce, veterans, workers with disabilities, workers 55 and older, and workers with a criminal record – making them ideal venues to provide voter registration services to those workers.

Learn more about the guidance.