Bill > S4044

Introduced Session

This bill revises the Motor Vehicle Commission voter registration procedures. Section 1 of the bill changes eligibility to be able to vote in an election to when the voter has registered to vote with the MVC, not when they have simply completed the form. Section 2 of the bill allows transfer of information on a newly registered voter received electronically by the MVC into the Statewide voter registration system. Section 3 of the bill directs the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services and the Department of Corrections to automatically transmit voter registration information to the Secretary of State for each person who applies to the New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program who is eligible to vote. The information received by the Secretary of State from the division and department does not require a digitized image of the applicant's signature. Section 4 of the bill changes to residence information are permitted to be received, processed, and updated by the MVC in addition to the commissioner, municipal clerk, or the Secretary of State for voter registration purposes. Section 5 of the bill changes to name information are permitted to be received and processed by the MVC for voter registration purposes. Section 6 of the bill directs the MVC to automatically transfer information to the Secretary of State about each person, except those in the Address Confidentiality Program, who approaches the MVC for a motor vehicle driver's license or similar license who is not registered to vote, is of age, and is a citizen. If the person is determined to be eligible to vote by the Secretary of State, the secretary will transmit the information to the appropriate county commissioner of registration who will register the person to vote and send a notice to the person by mail confirming the registration. The notice will include a form with prepaid postage by which the person may declare a political party affiliation, request mail-in ballots until indicated otherwise, or decline to be registered to vote. Section 6 also requires that the notice will include the required information in English and Spanish, as well any additional language which is the primary language of five percent or more of the registered voters in the county where the notice is mailed. Section 6 also removes the requirement that voter registration information from an application received online for the renewal of a motor vehicle driver's license or non-driver identification card will be collected and transmitted electronically to the Secretary of State upon the implementation by the Secretary of State of online voter registration. Section 6 also directs the MVC to transmit to the Secretary of State the applicant's name and address for every application for a motor vehicle driver's license, or similar license, and each related update, renewal, or change of address, by an applicant who is already registered to vote in the State of New Jersey for the purpose of maintaining current information on the applicant. If the Secretary of State finds that the name or address provided by the MVC is different than the name or address on the voter's registration record, the secretary will transmit the updated name or address to the appropriate county commissioner of registration. A notice of the change and a postage paid preaddressed return form by which the person may verify or correct the information will be sent to the person. If the person returns the notice and indicates that the change to the person's registration record was an error, the appropriate county commissioner of registration will immediately correct the person's previously updated information in the statewide voter registration system.

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Andrew Zwicker (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 06/27/2023)

Official Document