Bill Summary for S 704 (2017-2018)

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Summary date: 

Feb 7 2018

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2017-2018 Session
Senate Bill 704 (Public) Filed Friday, January 12, 2018
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION AT DRIVERS LICENSE OFFICES, PUBLIC AGENCIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND REQUIRING THE BIPARTISAN STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS ENFORCEMENT TO IMPLEMENT AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN INFORMING CITIZENS ABOUT AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION.
Intro. by Woodard, Lowe, Clark.

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Bill summary

Amends GS 163A-883. Amends the caption to read "Automatic voter registration at drivers license offices; coordination on data interface." Beginning January 1, 2019, directs the Division of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement, to implement a method by which any eligible drivers' license or special identification card applicant shall be automatically registered to vote, or able to update the voter's registration if the voter has changed his or her address or moved. Requires the person taking the application, in addition to the current requirements for drivers' license applicant voter registration, to affirmatively ask if the applicant is registered, and whether the applicant would like to register, and to note the refusal or register the applicant accordingly. Specifies the procedure for when an applicant does want to register. Directs the applicant to provide an electronic signature to attest that the information provided by the applicant is true and that the applicant is eligible to become a registered voter. Provides for electronic transmission of the application to the appropriate board of elections. Does not require the Department of Transportation to determine eligibility for voter registration or voting. Directs the State Board of Elections to ensure the confidentiality of information under this statute for purposes of automatic voter registration. Effective January 1, 2019.

Amends GS 163A-884. Amends the caption to read "Voter registration at other public agencies; automatic voter registration." Deletes the provision making offices which accept applications for programs of public assistance, as specified, a voter registration agency. Requires voter registration agencies, beginning January 1, 2020, in consultation with the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement, to provide with each application for service or assistance, and recertifications, renewals, or changes of address for such service or assistance, for automatic voter registration. Provides the same requirements for the person taking the application as those for the person taking a drivers' license application under GS 163A-863, including both current requirements and those added in this bill. Deletes the provisions requiring the voter registration agencies to distribute other types of voter registration forms, and to provide identical assistance to an applicant in filling out a voting form as is provided with the completion of the office's own forms. Provides that voter registrations are not required to provide automatic voter registration at a person's home. Directs the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement to ensure the confidentiality of information under this statute for purposes of automatic voter registration. Provides for the transmission of the application to the appropriate board of elections. Does not require the voter registration agencies to determine eligibility to register to vote. Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends GS 163A-885, requiring the educational programs for persons applying to register to vote after being restored to citizenship to inform the person of automatic voter registration. Effective January 1, 2019. Effective January 1, 2020, further amends GS 163A-885 to also require that the procedures for applying to register to vote at the time that an individuals is restored to citizenship also include informing the person of automatic voter registration in accordance with 115D-5 (concerning the Administration of institutions by State Board of Community Colleges;) or GS 116-11 (powers and duties of the UNC Board of Governors).

Amends GS 115D-5 and GS 116-11 as follows. Beginning January 1, 2020, applies the same requirements for the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina (Boards), and persons taking applications for enrollment and registration for courses, as those that are required for the DMV and voter registration agencies, and persons taking applications at those offices, except that the amendments do not explicitly provide for the transmission of the applications, or contain the provision not requiring the Boards to determine eligibility to register to vote. Effective January 1, 2020.

Directs the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement to establish and implement an education and outreach program to inform voters of the automatic voter registration procedures established under this act. Effective when the act becomes law.

Makes conforming changes to GS 163A-862 and GS 163A-865. Amends the caption of GS 163-82.3 to read "Voter registration application forms; automatic voter registration at certain agencies." Effective January 1, 2019.

Makes additional technical changes.