California becomes second state to adopt Automatic Voter Registration

California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB1461 today, making California the second state to adopt Automatic Voter Registration.

California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB1461 today, making California the second state to adopt Automatic Voter Registration. Automatic Voter Registration changes the process of voter registration at the DMV and other state agencies from opt-in to opt-out. It is one of many reforms states should be making to improve voting access and the strength of our democracy.

My colleagues at CalPIRG were some of the earliest supporters of the effort. See below for a statement from CalPIRG Executive Director Emily Rusch on the news.

Illinois is in the beginning stages of considering Automatic Voter Registration legislation. As part of the Just Democracy Coalition, I will be testifying in support of Automatic Voter Registration this Tuesday before the Senate Excecutive Subcomitte on Election Law.

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Statement of CalPIRG Executive Director Emily Rusch:

“A well-functioning democracy depends on the participation of its citizens.

“Step one to participation in elections is being registered to vote. 6.6 million eligible Californians were not registered in the 2014 election. The registration gap is most severe for young people. Only 52 percent of eligible youth between the ages of 18-24 were registered to vote before the last election. Numerous studies have shown that voting is habit forming, and youth who vote are more likely to become life-long voters.  Clearly our current systems to reach out and register new voters haven’t worked to date.

“In our 40-year history of working with young people and running non-partisan voter registration drives through the Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project, we have found that most young people want to and intend to participate in voting, but they need more information about the process of voting as well as the substance of what’s on the ballot.

“Under AB 1461, the New Motor Voter Act, Californians who visit the Department of Motor Vehicles would be asked a few simple questions as part of their DMV visit in order for the Secretary of State to automatically register to vote citizens who are eligible and willing.  

“This bill will increase voter registration rates and help remove one barrier that prevents individuals from voting. Of course voter registration must be complimented by voter outreach and education in order to create an electorate that is engaged and informed. By facilitating voter registration, this bill will free up county elections officials and civic engagement groups like ours to be able to spend more resources on needed outreach, public education, and engagement, instead of voter registration.

We applaud the Secretary of State Alex Padilla, along with Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez, Luis Alejo and Kevin McCarty for leading the way. And a big thank you to Governor Brown, for signing AB 1461 into law.”

Authors

Abe Scarr

State Director, Illinois PIRG; Energy and Utilities Program Director, PIRG

Abe Scarr is the director of Illinois PIRG and is the PIRG Energy and Utilities Program Director. He is a lead advocate in the Illinois Capitol and in the media for stronger consumer protections, utility accountability, and good government. In 2017, Abe led a coalition to pass legislation to implement automatic voter registration in Illinois, winning unanimous support in the Illinois General Assembly for the bill. He has co-authored multiple in-depth reports on Illinois utility policy and leads coalition campaigns to reform the Peoples Gas pipe replacement program. As PIRG's Energy and Utilities Program Director, Abe supports PIRG energy and utility campaigns across the country and leads the national Gas Stoves coalition. He also serves as a board member for the Consumer Federation of America. Abe lives in Chicago, where he enjoys biking, cooking and tending his garden.