Washington: Bill seeks partial automatic voter registration | Associated Press

Months after Washington state saw record low voter turnout, several lawmakers and Secretary of State Kim Wyman say they want to help increase engagement with automatic voter registration for some. Two measures, SB 6379 and HB 2682, would automatically register people who aren’t on the voter rolls but already have or apply for an enhanced driver’s license or commercial driver’s licenses. Those who receive social services that verify citizenship or get health insurance through the state health exchange also would be automatically registered. The measure would take effect Jan 1. 2017, and be retroactive so that unregistered voters who already have the specialized driver licenses or benefits would have their information sent to the secretary of state’s office, which would notify them that they can opt out. If the potential voter doesn’t respond, he or she will be automatically registered within 60 days.
“We believe this bill would simplify the process, enhance accuracy and, more importantly, would expand our democracy so that people would understand that we’re trying to make it easier for them to vote, not harder,” said Sen. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from Seattle who is the sponsor of the Senate measure.
The House bill has been approved by the House State Government Committee and is awaiting action in the House Appropriations Committee. The Senate bill had a public hearing but did not pass out of the Senate Government Operations and Security Committee.
Last year, California and Oregon were the first states to pass and sign into law automatic voter registration. New Jersey also passed such a law, but Gov. Chris Christie vetoed it.
Unlike California and Oregon, Washington does not require proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence in order to get a driver’s license, which is why proponents are not seeking automatic voter registration for everyone. Currently in Washington, people can opt in for voter registration when getting a license, during which time they need to sign an oath verifying they are U.S. citizens, residents of the state, at least 18, and not disqualified from voting due to a court order or because they are under department of corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.
Full Article: Washington bill seeks partial automatic voter registration – Fairfield Citizen.