HB 235

Abstract

Voter registration; automatic voter registration. Provides for the automatic electronic transmission by the Department of Motor Vehicles to the Department of Elections of certain information for any person coming into an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles or accessing its website in order to (i) apply for, replace, or renew a driver's license; (ii) apply for, replace, or renew a special identification card; or (iii) change an address on an existing driver's license or special identification card if the person indicates that he is a United States citizen and is 17 years of age or older and, at the time of the transaction, does not decline to have his information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes. The option to decline to have his information so transmitted shall be presented at the time of one of the specified transactions with the Department of Motor Vehicles and shall be accompanied by a warning that intentionally making a materially false statement during the transaction is punishable under Virginia law as a felony. Upon receipt of the information collected to ensure that the person meets all voter registration eligibility requirements, the Department of Elections is required to determine whether the person is already registered to vote. If the person is not already registered to vote, the Department of Elections is required to transmit the information to the appropriate general registrar. The bill repeals the requirement that the Department of Motor Vehicles offer, accept, receive, and send voter registration applications. This bill is identical to SB 219.

Voter registration; automatic voter registration. Provides for the automatic electronic transmission by the Department of Motor Vehicles to the Department of Elections of certain information for any person coming into an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles or accessing its website in order to (i) apply for, replace, or renew a driver's license; (ii) apply for, replace, or renew a special identification card; or (iii) change an address on an existing driver's license or special identification card if the person indicates that he is a United States citizen and is 17 years of age or older and, at the time of the transaction, does not decline to have his information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes. The option to decline to have his information so transmitted shall be presented at the time of one of the specified transactions with the Department of Motor Vehicles and shall be accompanied by a warning that intentionally making a materially false statement during the transaction is punishable under Virginia law as a felony. Upon receipt of the information collected to ensure that the person meets all voter registration eligibility requirements, the Department of Elections is required to determine whether the person is already registered to vote. If the person is not already registered to vote, the Department of Elections is required to transmit the information to the appropriate general registrar. The bill repeals the requirement that the Department of Motor Vehicles offer, accept, receive, and send voter registration applications.

Voter registration; automatic voter registration.Provides for the automatic electronic transmission by the Department of MotorVehicles to the Department of Elections of certain information for any personcoming into an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles or accessing itswebsite in order to (i) apply for, replace, or renew a driver's license; (ii)apply for, replace, or renew a special identification card; or (iii) change anaddress on an existing driver's license or special identification card if theperson indicates that he is a United States citizen and is 17 years of age orolder and, at the time of the transaction, does not decline to have hisinformation transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registrationpurposes. The option to decline to have his information so transmitted shall bepresented at the time of one of the specified transactions with the Departmentof Motor Vehicles and shall be accompanied by a warning that intentionallymaking a materially false statement during the transaction is punishable underVirginia law as a felony. Upon receipt of the information collected to ensurethat the person meets all voter registration eligibility requirements, theDepartment of Elections is required to determine whether the person is alreadyregistered to vote. If the person is not already registered to vote, theDepartment of Elections is required to transmit the information to theappropriate general registrar. The bill repeals the requirement that theDepartment of Motor Vehicles offer, accept, receive, and send voterregistration applications.