Bill Summaries: S 812 UNIVERSAL VOTER REGISTRATION.

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  • Summary date: Jun 12 2018 - View Summary

    Amends GS 163A-862 to require county boards of elections to accept voter registration applications submitted by automatic voter registration, and makes technical conforming change to the statute caption. Effective January 1, 2019.

    Amends GS 163A-865 to require that automatic voter registration be among the acceptable forms of voter registration which county boards of elections must accept; makes additional technical conforming changes to the statute. Effective January 1, 2019.

    Amends GS 163A-883 to establish automatic voter registration systems at drivers licenses offices operated by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) beginning January 1, 2019; the system shall automatically register eligible persons to vote, or update the voter’s registration, upon issuance or renewal of a drivers license or special identification card.  Requires DMV to develop automatic voter registration in consultation with the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement.  Requires the person taking applications to inform the applicant that he or she is being automatically registered to vote unless the applicant declines and provide information about the qualifications to vote, limitations on registration eligibility, criminal penalties for providing false information, and related confidentiality provisions.  If the applicant does not decline voter registration, the applicant is required to provide all information required for registration, including political party or unaffiliated preference; failure to declare a political party preference results in registration as unaffiliated.  A declination to register remains confidential.  Provides that registration of an ineligible person is not subject to criminal penalty unless false information is willfully and knowingly provided on the application. Specifies that the Department of Transportation is not required to determine voter eligibility.

    Amends GS 163A-884 to establish automatic voter registration systems at state offices that accept applications for public assistance programs, programs for persons with disabilities, and unemployment compensation benefits beginning January 1, 2020; makes additional changes identical to those under GS 163A-883.  Further provides that agencies providing in-home services to persons with disabilities are not required to provide automatic voter registration at the person’s home.  Specifies that agencies providing automatic voter registration are not required to determine voter eligibility. Effective January 1, 2020.

    Amends GS 163A-885 to require the information on voter eligibility provided to persons at the time citizenship rights are restored upon completion of a criminal sentence to include information on automatic voter registration. Effective January 1, 2019. Makes conforming amendments reflecting automatic voter registration at institutions of higher education, discussed below, effective January 1, 2020.

    Amends GS 115D-5 to establish automatic voter registration for students enrolled in and registering for courses at a state community college beginning January 1, 2020.  Requires the State Board of Community Colleges to develop the system in consultation with the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement.  Makes additional changes governing requirements of the system similar to those found under GS 163A-883.  Further provides that applicants registered through a state community college cannot vote in an election where the application was accepted within 25 calendar days preceding that election.

    Amends GS 116-11 to establish automatic voter registration for students enrolled in and registering for courses at a state university beginning January 1, 2020. Requires the UNC Board of Governors to develop the system in consultation with the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement.  Makes additional changes governing requirements of the system similar to those found under GS 163A-883.  Further provides that applicants registered through a state university cannot vote in an election where the application was accepted within 25 calendar days preceding that election.

    Requires the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement to develop and implement an education and outreach campaign to inform voters of automatic voter registration.