H00692025 Regular Session

Amends existing law to provide for automatic voter registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles.

VOTERS -- Amends existing law to provide for automatic voter registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles.

IntroducedIn CommitteeFloor VoteEnacted

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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This legislation will provide for the automatic registration of eligible citizens to vote at the same time that they apply for or renew a driver’s license or state issued identification, unless they opt out of being registered to vote at that time. The act of voting – being able to elect our leaders and set our course as a state and a nation – defines the United States at home and abroad. This legislation aims to facilitate the exercise of this basic right for thousands of eligible citizens who are unregistered or have outdated registrations due to relocation.

FISCAL NOTE

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No negative impact to the state general fund is anticipated. Every state that has adopted automatic voter registration has seen significant savings with respect to staff time, paper processing, and/or mailing, among other expenses. Online voter registration has been fully implemented, thus the facilities already exist for registering voters through the processing of electronic information. Pertinent voter data required for voter registration is already being collected by the various Departments of Motor Vehicles, and could be readily transmitted to election offices throughout the state.