FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1996                           (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

        FEDERAL COURT APPROVES AGREEMENT OUTLINING THE WAY
         MICHIGAN WILL COMPLY WITH VOTER REGISTRATION LAW

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A federal court in Grand Rapids has
approved an agreement between the Justice Department and Michigan
that will make voter registration easier for residents of the
state.
     The agreement, signed last week by the parties but approved
yesterday, follows an unsuccessful effort by the state to resist
compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).  The
agreement resolves the way in which the state will now comply with
the law.       
     "Millions of Americans across the country are benefiting from
this common sense law," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil
Rights Deval L. Patrick.  "Now because of the state's willingness
to resolve the matter, residents of Michigan will be able to fully
benefit from the law as well."
     Under the agreement Michigan, among other things, will:
    send mail-in registration forms to the many thousands of
     people who were not given the chance to register to vote in
     state public assistance and disability agencies last year;

    expand in-person voter registration at state agencies until
     this year's general election; 

    report monthly on the number of persons registering to vote 
     at public assistance and disability agencies; and,

    add an additional disability agency to register voters. 

     The agreement followed a District Court ruling that rejected
the state's claim that the law was unconstitutional and that
ordered the state to comply.  Although the state has agreed to
simplify voter registration, it can continue to challenge the law
on appeal.
     Every court that has considered the issue--including two
Courts of Appeals and six U.S. District Courts--has found the law
to be constitutional.  The Supreme Court in January refused to hear
an appeal by California.
     Under the NVRA, most states were required by January 1, 1995
to provide voter registration for federal elections at motor
vehicle locations and other state agencies, as well as through the
mail.  President Clinton signed the law into effect in May  1993.
     States where the new law has been implemented have experienced
dramatic increases over the past year in the number of people that
have registered to vote.
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