It has been a long time since California has been on the forefront of anything in this nation. However, as many other states have moved to making voting more difficult, enacting draconian if not disenfranchising laws, California in the past week has moved in the other direction, enacting same-day voter laws, online registration, and other innovations.
In a press release, the ACLU announced, “California leads the nation in promoting voter access.” They applaud a third voter access law which enables voter registration through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
“California stands alone in the nation in dramatically increasing – rather than suppressing – opportunities for voter registration among low-income voters, students and persons with disabilities with yesterday’s signing by Governor Jerry Brown of SB 35, Senator Alex Padilla’s bill to help qualified adults register to vote,” the ACLU wrote.
Voting rights advocates, including the ACLU of California, are applauding Sen. Padilla and Governor Brown for finalizing SB 35, which will designate California’s new Health Benefit Exchange – the program that California created to implement the Affordable Care Act – as a voter registration agency, opening the door for millions of Californians to be offered the opportunity to register to vote.
The bill also requires existing voter registration agencies to incorporate the new online voter registration tool into their online application processes. Together, the Health Benefit Exchange and these agencies serve more than seven million Californians each year. This is the first voluntary expansion of voter registration agencies in California in 18 years.
“With the Governor’s signature, California becomes the first state in the nation to offer voter registration through implementation of the Affordable Care Act,” said the bill’s author, Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). “This continues our commitment to maximizing voter registration and participation. Last week, California launched a new on-line voter registration system and more than 20,000 Californians registered to vote in the first 24 hours alone. With SB 35, we further expand voter registration opportunities that will increase participation and strengthen our democracy.”
SB 35 also requires the Secretary of State to translate the new online registration tool into eight additional languages for which counties are required to provide voting materials pursuant to the federal Voting Rights Act, giving access to one million eligible Asian Americans with limited English proficiency.
“This is a great day to be a Californian, with our state expanding access to the electoral process when so many other states are restricting the right to vote,” said Lori Shellenberger, civic engagement attorney for the ACLU of California. “It is exciting to see online voter registration offered to people seeking health care coverage and other services so that no citizen is deprived of the opportunity to register to vote.”
This is the third major voting access bill signed into law in the past week. Monday marked National Voter Registration Day and the governor marked it by also signing a bill that makes it easier for Californians to vote by permitting same-day voter registration.
In the governor’s signing statement, he said, “Voting, the sacred right of every citizen, should be simple and convenient. While other states try to restrict voters with new laws that burden the process, California allows voters to register online – and even on Election Day.”
The legislation, authored by Los Angeles Assemblymember Mike Feur, would allow voters to register to vote in the days preceding an upcoming election, even on election day itself. Currently, voters must register at least 15 days prior to the next election.
“This new law will help assure that all eligible Californians will have the chance to determine who speaks for them in Washington, Sacramento and their home towns,” said Feuer. “By recognizing the importance of increasing voter turnout in our state, we are improving the democratic process in California.”
Currently in California, voter affidavits must be hand-delivered or postmarked to a county elections office at least 15 days before the election. Exceptions are made for people who become U.S. citizens 7-14 days before Election Day. These individuals are allowed to register and vote up to 7 days prior to the election. Currently, ten states allow some form of Election Day registration, including Connecticut, Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Senator Leland Yee had authored previous versions of this law and issued a statement, “I am thrilled to see Governor Brown sign these important bills. While some states are suppressing the vote, California is leading with real election reforms. Online registration and same-day registration will help increase participation in our elections and will strengthen our democracy. This is a proud day for California.”
Last week the Vanguard reported that California now allows online voter registration.
“Though most states still cannot offer online voter registration, I am thrilled to say the largest state in the nation is ready to roll. Today the Internet replaces the mailbox for thousands of Californians wanting to register to vote,” said Secretary of State Debra Bowen, California’s chief elections officer. “Online or on paper, California’s laws and procedures for processing voter registration applications are identical. Security is a critical part of elections, and I want to emphasize this online application is not ‘automatic registration.’ The information provided in an online application still must be verified by a county elections official before an applicant can be added to the voter rolls.”
“The participation of all of citizens is vital to ensuring that our government properly represents the views of the people,” said Senator Yee. “Unfortunately, approximately 30 percent of eligible voters do not register. This is a trend we must change.”
“While some states are suppressing the vote, California is leading with real election reforms,” the Senator added. “Online registration and same-day registration will help increase participation in our elections and will strengthen our democracy.”
The new online voter registration system will allow citizens whose signature is already on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles to submit their voter registration form to their county elections office electronically via the internet or a mobile device by visiting RegisterToVote.ca.gov.
Paper applications are available at many government offices, DMV offices, post offices, public libraries, and more. The last day to register to vote for the November 6 General Election is October 22, as the same-day voter law will not take effect until the next election cycle.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
“However, as many other states have moved to making voting more difficult, enacting draconian if not disenfranchising laws”
LOL, asking for a picture ID is draconian?
[quote]asking for a picture ID is draconian?[/quote]
Not in Davis. However, for those with no transportation, physical limitations, inability to take time off work,
( some people really do work 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet ) the answer may be “yes”.
The post says:
> opening the door for millions of Californians
> to be offered the opportunity to register to vote.
Let’s be honest on this site and admit that this is not about “voter access”, it is “opening the door for political campaigns to go out on the street on election day and round up as many people as they can to vote for their candidate or issue”. The Democrats know that most of the people sitting around on election day (homeless, jobless and residents of housing projects) will vote for their candidate or issues so they supported the law. The Republicans don’t think they can round up as many voters on election day so they opposed the law (and pretended they care about voter fraud).
[quote]Not in Davis. However, for those with no transportation, physical limitations, inability to take time off work,
( some people really do work 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet ) the answer may be “yes”.[/quote]
We’ve known this election was coming for four years. If you can’t figure out how to get an ID in 1,461 days you are not smart enough to vote, not motivated enough to vote, or maybe a little of both. I don’t want people who are that self limiting voting. If someone can’t figure out how to get to DMV do we really want them deciding where the county is going.
I am not talking about the three people in Yolo County who are bedridden and can’t go get an ID but still want to vote.
Here’s your Democrats in a nutshell:
They fight and have the DOJ take states to court to try and keep voters from having to show valid ID at the polls but that same DOJ doesn’t try to convict Black Panthers standing out in front of a polling place yielding billy clubs.
SouthofDavis
“Let’s be honest on this site and admit that this is not about “voter access”
No quarrel about honesty as long as we are also being honest about the partisan actions of the women being paid by the county to register voters who were only choosing to register Romney supporters ( readily available by Googling fraudulent registration) and the goal of disenfranchising many who have not obtained picture IDs because they have never been needed before done under the name of preventing
Fraud while disproportionately affecting those felt likely to vote Democratic.