SACRAMENTO – California State Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) observed today’s National Voter Registration Day celebration by calling on Gov. Jerry Brown to sign into law the California New Motor Voter Act that was passed by legislators earlier this month.
The Act, known as Assembly Bill AB 1461, would expand voter registration opportunities by registering every eligible citizen who goes to a Department of Motor Vehicles to get a license or renew one, with the ability to opt out, potentially adding millions of new registered voters to California’s voter rolls.
Joint-authored by Gonzalez, McCarty and Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville), AB 1461 calls for data collected by the DMV would be provided to the California Secretary of State’s Office, who would use the incoming VoteCal database to verify a resident’s legal eligibility to vote. The bill would continue to protect those covered by existing confidentiality policies, such as peace officers, and voters would retain their right to cancel their voter registration at any time.
AB 1461 will improve a lackluster voter registration system that has resulted in some of the lower participation rates in the country. California ranks 38th in the nation in voter registration rates of eligible citizens and statistics show that less than 1 out of every five residents who interact with the DMV through the current motor voter program opt-in to vote. The problem is not just isolated to California however, as a study by Carroll College researchers showed that up to 4 million Americans had their vote suppressed because they did not register to vote in time for the 2012 general election despite their desire to cast a ballot.
Gonzalez, McCarty, Sacramento County Registrar of Voters Jill LaVine and the California League of Conservation Voters urged Gov. Brown to sign AB 1461 into law at a mock election event being held at Arthur Benjamin Health Professions High School in Sacramento. Secretary of State Alex Padilla, whose office is sponsoring the legislation, was also holding public events in Los Angeles to call on the Governor to approve AB 1461.
“Nothing is more fundamental to a strong democracy than ensuring people have access to voting free from unnecessary barriers,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve seen voter participation plummet in recent years as our voting system has fallen behind the times, but the New Motor Voter Act allows us the opportunity to streamline and modernize the registration process for millions of eligible voters who haven’t been a part of our voting system.”
“In 2014, voter participation hit all-time lows with less than 34 percent of registered voters in Sacramento County voting,” McCarty said. “We urge the Governor to sign this measure to increase civic engagement and voter participation.”
“National Voter Registration Day is a reminder that the New Motor Voter Act provides a big opportunity to add millions of citizens to California’s vote rolls” Padilla said. “The New Motor Voter Act would strengthen our democracy by removing barriers and helping more Californians exercise their fundamental right to vote.”
“We’re thrilled that the state legislature recently passed a bill that would increase voter registration and voter turnout,” California League of Conservation Voters Legislative Director Jena Price said. “AB 1461, the New Motor Voter Act, would automatically register to vote eligible voters who obtain or update a driver’s license. This critical bill has one more hurtle before it becomes law – we need Governor Brown to sign it.”
AB 1461 was approved by the full Senate on a 24-15 vote on Sept. 10 and by a 52-26 Assembly vote on Sept. 11. Gov. Brown has until Oct. 11 to sign or veto the bill.
