Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that authorizes and implements automatic voter registration for those accessing services through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Highlights:

• Requires each person coming into an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles or accessing its website in order to complete the following actions be presented with a question asking whether or not they are a United State citizen and an option to decline to have this information transmitted to the Department of Election for voter registration purposes (Sec. 1):

• Applying for, replacing, or renewing a driver’s license;

• Applying for, replacing, or renewing a special identification card; or

• Changing an address on an existing driver’s license or special identification card.

• Specifies that the citizenship question and option to decline must be accompanied by a statement that says making a materially false statement during the transaction constitutes election fraud and is punishable under state law as a felony (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that for each person who does not select the option declining to have their information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes and who identifies themselves as a US citizen, the Department of Motor Vehicles may request any information as required by the State Board of Elections to ensure that the person meets all eligibility requirements (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to electronically transmit to the Department of Elections the information collected in the above highlight for any person who has indicated that they are a US citizen, have indicated that they are 17 years of age or older, and at the time of such transaction did not decline to have their information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Elections to use the information transmitted to determine whether a person already has a registered record in the voter registration system (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Election to transmit the information to the appropriate general registrar for any person who does not yet have a registration record in the voter registration system (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that authorizes and implements automatic voter registration for those accessing services through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Highlights:

• Requires each person coming into an office of the Department of Motor Vehicles or accessing its website in order to complete the following actions be presented with a question asking whether or not they are a United State citizen and an option to decline to have this information transmitted to the Department of Election for voter registration purposes (Sec. 1):

• Applying for, replacing, or renewing a driver’s license;

• Applying for, replacing, or renewing a special identification card; or

• Changing an address on an existing driver’s license or special identification card.

• Specifies that the citizenship question and option to decline must be accompanied by a statement that says making a materially false statement during the transaction constitutes election fraud and is punishable under state law as a felony (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that for each person who does not select the option declining to have their information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes and who identifies themselves as a US citizen, the Department of Motor Vehicles may request any information as required by the State Board of Elections to ensure that the person meets all eligibility requirements (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to electronically transmit to the Department of Elections the information collected in the above highlight for any person who has indicated that they are a US citizen, have indicated that they are 17 years of age or older, and at the time of such transaction did not decline to have their information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Elections to use the information transmitted to determine whether a person already has a registered record in the voter registration system (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Election to transmit the information to the appropriate general registrar for any person who does not yet have a registration record in the voter registration system (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text