The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 requires states to allow eligible persons to register to vote at various government locations, including public assistance offices. Since the initial reporting period (1995-1996), the number of persons registering to vote at public assistance offices has declined. This trend has led some to speculate that the states are failing to provide welfare recipients with the opportunity to register to vote at public assistance offices. However, other possible explanations include declining welfare caseloads caused by welfare reform in 1996.