California New Motor Voter Program: voter registration.

Under existing law, a person may not be registered to vote except by affidavit of registration. Existing law authorizes a person who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise meets all eligibility requirements to vote to submit his or her affidavit of registration, which, if properly executed, will be deemed effective as of the date the affiant will be 18 years of age. Existing law requires the Secretary of State and the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish the California New Motor Voter Program. Under the program, the Department of Motor Vehicles is required to provide to the Secretary of State specified information associated with each person who submits an application for a driver's license or identification card. The person's motor vehicle records then constitute a completed affidavit of registration and the person is registered to vote, unless the person affirmatively declines to register to vote during a transaction with the department, the department does not represent to the Secretary of State that the person attested that he or she meets all voter eligibility requirements, or the Secretary of State determines that the person is ineligible to vote. This bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to additionally report to the Secretary of State that an applicant has attested that he or she meets the voter preregistration requirements for a person who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise meets all voter eligibility requirements. The bill would provide that the prescribed information submitted by the department to the Secretary of State constitutes a completed or submitted affidavit of registration and the Secretary would be required to register or preregister the person to vote, except as specified. The bill would also make conforming changes.