The Senate has approved a bill that would create automatic voter registration at the Division of Motor Vehicles. Senate Bill 5 would streamline and codify the existing DMV process by which citizens can put their names on the state’s voter rolls. Under the proposal, any unregistered eligible adult who provides proof of citizenship to the DMV would be signed up to vote, and any name or address change identified during the process would be automatically forwarded to the Department of Elections, so voter rolls can be updated.The department would then notify Delawareans through the mail, giving them a chance to identify with a specific party or cancel their registration entirely.
- So if I renew my license at DMV, I am automatically registered to vote, even if I tell the clerk that I do not want my information sent to the board of elections? What if I live in a city or town that requires you to register with them to vote? You are going to wind up with a lot of people confused on voting day, when they thought they were registered and then are denied voting by their municipality. More useless, feel-good legislation that lets our legislators pretend they are actually working for the people. — Bob Skuse
- Another way to try and keep the Democrats in office. — Charles Cain
- You really have a problem with citizens being auto-registered to vote when they get their license? Seems like an odd thing to be at odds with. Democracy is about everyone voting freely, and making that more accessible is a good thing. — Ant W. Terrigno
- Why stop there? Why not say that if you have a driver’s license, you can vote? Why even register someone? I believe this is to help with the mail-in voting. The state will do mass mail-in ballots. The politicians have only one thing in mind, and that is how can I get reelected? Or how can I make sure my party stays in power? There are other motives here, and they just haven’t said what it is. — Kevin McCarthy
- Motives or not, anything that makes it easier to vote and increases participation in the democratic process is a positive. — Daimon Levau
- Simple participation does not make it necessarily positive. Being informed and knowledgeable might, but you have to put in an effort. — Kevin McCarthy
- You either believe in the right to vote, or you don’t. — Daimon Levau
- I think this will be fine. Look, it will increase the jury duty pool to pick from. — Amy Walton
- Imagine being so fragile that you’re mad about increasing access to voting (not partisan). Some of y’all... — Bre Holtz
- It’s been working that way in Oregon for years. Along with 100% mail voting. I don’t get people’s opposition to either. — Lyle Clingman
- Amazing the Republican remarks because who needs it more? Not Democrats but Republicans because more of them don’t sign up to vote! — Douglas Mastin
