California DMV considering automated voter eligibility, potentially joining other states – Orange County Register

The California legislature is deliberating on a bill with the aim of achieving 100% voter registration by expanding the state’s Motor Voter Program. The proposed legislation, SB846, introduced by Senators Caroline Menjivar and Monique Limón, seeks to automatically register eligible but unregistered individuals to vote when they visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This expansion is expected to add approximately five million more voters to the registry, as stated in a report by the Public Policy Institute of California.

According to the report, the current pool of registered voters is predominantly older, wealthier, and whiter compared to the larger group of eligible voters in California. By enlisting the support of organizations representing various communities such as labor, faith-based, Black, Asian, Latino, women, and youth, advocates hope to increase voter turnout among newer voters and better reflect the state’s diversity.

Although the passage of the bill is uncertain, as it is currently being held in a “suspense file,” there is a possibility it could be approved before the next elections if it is passed by January 31, 2024. A similar bill introduced by Sen. Josh Newman in 2021 was able to pass the Senate but failed in the Assembly.

The proposed legislation aligns with the perspective that voter registration should not be an individual’s burden, but rather a responsibility of the government. In many advanced democracies, the onus of voter registration lies with the government, ensuring that all eligible individuals can exercise their constitutional right to vote. Amy Hamblin, an advisor for NextGen Policy, highlighted this and emphasized the importance of removing registration as an impediment to voting.

An executive director of a progressive community organization, OC Action, pointed out that despite California’s efforts to make elections more accessible, certain groups of potential voters have been overlooked. Formerly incarcerated individuals, non-English speakers, low-income individuals, and recently naturalized citizens are among those who face challenges when attempting to understand and complete the voter registration process.

California has been implementing voter registration at the DMV since 2018 through the California Motor Voter Program. This program enables automatic registration for eligible citizens when they complete a driver’s license, state identification, or change of address transaction, unless they choose to opt-out. A USC study revealed that the program has become the primary method for first-time voters to register.

The current Motor Voter Program, however, functions as a “front-end, opt-out system,” which some argue serves as a barrier for newly naturalized citizens and others who are eligible to vote but remain unregistered. Under this system, the first question posed to individuals is regarding their citizenship. Based on their response, they either continue with voter registration or follow a separate track of questions.

The proposed program, known as a “back-end, opt-out system,” would automatically register anyone visiting the DMV for a transaction as a voter, while simultaneously screening out non-citizens and individuals who are ineligible based on available paperwork. Eligible voters would then receive a notice by mail allowing them to opt-out of voting if they choose to do so.

It is worth noting that non-citizens who vote in elections that require citizenship may face legal consequences, including possible deportation.

Several other states, including Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington, have already passed legislation to automatically register most eligible voters at their DMVs. Oregon’s back-end, opt-out system, for instance, has resulted in over 90% of eligible adults being registered, while in California, which utilizes the front-end model, only about 60% have been registered.

Luis Aleman, a spokesperson for the Orange County Voter Information Project, expressed belief in the potential of California’s program to serve as a national model if successful in a state with over 38 million inhabitants. He emphasized that automatic registration would remove barriers to entry and set a positive foundation for new generations of voters.

Aleman acknowledged the challenges the bill may face but remains optimistic, committing to raising awareness and sustaining momentum towards its passage.