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California to automatically register drivers to vote

October 12, 2015

california dr license btCalifornia Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Saturday that will automatically register state residents to vote when they obtain or renew a driver’s license. [Mercury News]

Assembly Bill 1461, which was authored by Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, contains an opt-out clause for those who do not want to register to vote. Also, the new law applies only to residents who are eligible to vote.

California now issues driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, whom state and federal law prohibit from voting. Opponents of the bill argued the legislation would result in the state accidentally registering illegal immigrants to vote.

Supporters of AB 1461 say there are proper checks built in to prevent that from occurring.

Under the new law, legal residents who visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to apply for, renew or change the address on a driver’s license will be registered to vote by the Secretary of State’s Office, unless they opt out.

Lead proponent of the bill, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, said citizens should not have to opt-in to vote, which is a fundamental right like freedom of speech. Padilla said AB 1461 will help the 6.6 million Californians who are eligible to vote but have not yet registered.

California is the second state to adopt an automatic voter registration law. Oregon did so earlier this year. The law will take effect in California in January.


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Both of our representatives, Senator Bill Monning and Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian voted against AB 1461 (Voter-Motor).


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Come on guys, quit your sad faces. I bet it will work just as well as E-verify! Look at all that success :D


Now, it would be AWESOME if it would automatically register these young male whippersnappers for selective service too! I mean talk about a job not many Americans want to do……


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He should register them to vote when they get their medical marijuana cards as well. Great way of assuring idiots stay in office. Free Doritos and late night pizzas to the people at taxpayer expense!


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The California Dept. of Motor Vehicles has already said that it has no way to distinguish citizens from non citizens once the information is entered into the database.


Unless they come up with a method for doing this, California will be the first state to allow citizens of Mexico and other countries here illegally to vote in all of our elections. It will also allow legal immigrants and refugees to vote before they receive citizenship.


A specific instruction is given in the bill to not prosecute any non citizens who vote through the voter-motor registration.


This bill was opposed by the ACLU, the Election Integrity Project of California and True the vote. Check their web sites for further information.


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“Under the law, automatic voter registration would not take place until the state’s long-awaited voter database, VoteCal, is up and running; there is a system in place to protect the transfer of noncitizen information; and money has been appropriated by the Legislature.


Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article38684598.html


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And we all know this govt run program will be 100% correct – 100% of the time. Right?


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Sure, MIke, just like everything in life is 100% correct


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Citizen says:” The California Dept. of Motor Vehicles has already said that it has no way to distinguish citizens from non citizens once the information is entered into the database.”


Bull, the AB 60 driver’s licenses are different and different in the database.


From the DMV : Starting January 1st, 2015 AB 60 driver’s licenses will be available for California residents regardless of immigration status. You do not need to provide a social security number or proof of legal presence in order to apply for an AB 60 driver’s license.


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From the Election Integrity Project website:


“During interviews with TTV(True the Vote) research staff, the CA-DMV Legal Affairs Division explained that the agency’s licensing records were not designed to differentiate noncitizen drivers from U.S. citizens, nor were there plans to create a stand-alone list of AB 60 recipients.


Simply put, other offices, such as the California Secretary of State, would not be readily able to discern voter eligibility relying on incoming CA-DMV database records. As a contrast, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration explained to TTV that noncitizen drivers were easily identified in their database thanks to unique indicators.”


Kettle, if you know how the Ca-DMV can distinguish the non citizens from citizens in their database, give them a call. I’m sure they would appreciate your help.


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Maybe the real intent is merely to expand the juror pool.


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Not sure that is the reason. Every time I have had jury duty all I have had to do is cal in for 2 -3 days and then they release me, so having enough people for juries doesn’t seem to be a problem. There must be another reason for doing this, and I wouldn’t believe it is they said it was to improve the pitiful voter turnout at elections.


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Just because a person is registered does not always guarantee that they will vote and I always get called in or put standby for Jury selection and call daily until called in or excused.


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Now, that’s funny!


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In California all you have to do to be registered to vote is get a driver’s license, which as we all should remember is now available to non-citizens. It really won’t change much except the Democrats super majority is closer then ever.


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“any eligible California resident will be able to receive a driver’s license, regardless of immigration status. An applicant who does not have proof of lawful presence will receive an AB 60 license, which will have a visible distinguishing feature”


A AB 60 license is not the same as what is in your pocket.


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“the new law applies only to residents who are eligible to vote” and who’s word is going to be taken as to if someone is eligible? the state, the person applying for the license??


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You have to be a U.S. citizen to vote, buy a handgun and number of other priviledges, this article says that the DMV will register you to vote if you are a legal resident. Either this is a suspect article or this is a suspect new practice? I do not trust this change on any level.


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As long as the gun buying process has holes, so will the DMV.


Besides if we have to trust that only people who are allowed to have guns, possess them then we will have to trust that only qualified citizens get voter registration.


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Since CA is giving drivers licenses to illegals, does that mean you no longer have to be a citizen to vote?


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