Oregon’s newly-minted Gov. Kate Brown just made history by signing a bill to register all voting-age Oregonians with DMV-issued IDs to vote. The legislation, which Brown had initiated while still Secretary of State, allows residents to opt-out of voter registration, instead of requiring them to opt in. The move is expected to add about 300,000 voters to the rolls.
Brown told reporters at today’s signing ceremony that the bill would reduce the costs and inconveniences associated with voting, as well as make it more secure. Oregon already has one of the highest voter turn-out rates in the country, a fact that is often attributed to the state’s vote-by-mail system. Newly enrolled voters will receive notification in the mail instructing them how to opt-out or select a party affiliation. Those who don’t choose a party will be labelled unaffiliated.
The Oregonian has an informative Q&A about the potential implications of the bill.
What’s your take?
This article appears in Mar 11-18, 2015.
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So if we had passed the driver ID cards/driver licence for illegal immigrants ballot insinuative would this law have given them the right to vote too????
That’s the plan Tom!