The Nevada Senate on Monday approved a citizen initiative to automatically register people to vote when they conduct certain transactions at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The 12-9 vote was along party lines, with independent Sen. Patricia Farley of Las Vegas joining Democrats to approve the measure. Democratic supporters said it would increase voter rolls in Nevada and engage more people in the election process. Republican opponents countered that the registration system works fine and that the initiative could lead to voter fraud.
The Automatic Voter Registration Initiative, or IP1, amends Nevada law to require the DMV to automatically transmit information to the secretary of state and county clerks to register people whenever they obtain, renew or change an address on a driver’s license or identification card at a DMV office.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Assistant Minority Leader Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, said he is not a conspiracy theorist who believes voter fraud is rampant. “That does not mean, however, it does not exist,” he said.
Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, said the initiative does not drastically alter the process at the DMV. Instead of having people affirm they want to vote, they would have to opt out of registering by checking a box. She said a person’s information would then be forwarded to election officials to verify they are eligible to cast ballots in Nevada.
Full Article: Nevada voter registration bill headed to governor’s desk | Las Vegas Review-Journal.