Bill > A4616

Introduced Session

This bill expands the automatic voter registration process to Medicaid applicants and provides for each person who automatically registers to vote in this State to decline such automatic voter registration in the days following receipt of a voter registration notice. Under current law, persons who meet the qualifications to become registered voters may automatically register to vote during a transaction at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, such as while applying for a motor vehicle driver's license, an examination permit, a probationary driver's license, or a non-driver identification card. Current law also allows any State agency to implement a similar automatic voter registration process, if the Secretary of State verifies that the agency collects the necessary documentation for automatic voter registration. Under current law, the applicant must be given the opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The opportunity to decline is offered during the applicant's interaction with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or State agency. This bill would require the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to implement an automatic voter registration process. Under the bill, the division would transmit voter registration information to the Secretary of State for each person who applies to the New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program, subject to compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. The bill would therefor expand automatic voter registration to the population of Medicaid applicants. In addition, this bill requires for the opportunity to decline automatic voter registration to be offered to the applicant in the days after the person's interaction with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or State agency, rather than during such interaction. Under the bill, each county commissioner of registration would be required to notify each person registered to vote, in writing, at the address included in the completed automatic voter registration form, of the person's opportunity to: (1) decline to register to vote; or (2) adopt a political party affiliation. Such notification would be provided to the person by mail, in English and Spanish, and any additional languages to be determined by the Secretary of State. If a person so notified does not decline to register to vote within 21 calendar days after the issuance of the notification, the county commissioner of registration would add the person's name and all pertinent information to the Statewide Voter Registration System.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Chris Tully (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee (on 06/20/2024)

Official Document