California wants to automate voter registration. That’s bad news for Republicans.

[jpak]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/15/heres-why-california-republicans-oppose-a-measure-to-link-voter-registration-to-drivers-licenses/

In 2002, voters in California were asked to approve Proposition 52, which would have allowed people to register and vote on the same day. Backed by Democratic groups and opposed by Republicans, the proposal would have made it much easier to increase the vote from targeted demographics. Your candidate is supported heavily by older voters? Pull up a bus outside a nursing home, pack it full and drive to the polling place. Anyone not already registered could vote within minutes regardless. The proposal failed by a wide margin -- no doubt thanks to the fact that 2002 was an off-year election in which fewer Democrats vote.

Last week, the California Senate passed a measure that would accomplish the same goal in a different way. Mirroring a law on the books in Oregon, voter registration would now be tied to getting a drivers license. Once you've run the gauntlet at the DMV and gotten your license, you'd automatically be registered to vote, unless you opted out.

The vote in the California Senate, like the vote on Prop 52, drew heavy opposition from Republicans. Ostensibly, the concern was about the integrity of the election system, though evidence of in-person voter fraud remains extremely rare.

But there are two very political reasons that would make Republicans oppose the law as well.

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[Gothmog]

1. The GOP is the party of voter suppression

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Do it, CA. Do it today!

nt

[Snobblevitch]

3. We have had same day voter registration in Minnesta for decades.

There was one unfortunate outcome. We got Ventura.

I the the voter registration at the DMV should be opt in, like choosing to be a donor.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. This should read only needs the governor's signature

the bill is on his desk.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Some people in Alaska

want to tie voter registration to Permanent Fund Dividend applications. That would certainly assure that people who have been here a year would get registered. I kind of like the idea.

[Dont call me Shirley]

6. What's the old saying "As California goes, so goes the rest of the country". Do it CA!

[kpete]

7. yep