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Chapter 4.5. California New Motor Voter Program of California Elections Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 4.5.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
California New Motor Voter Program.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Voter registration is one of the biggest barriers to participation in our democracy.
(b) In 1993, Congress enacted the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), commonly known as the "Motor Voter Law," with findings recognizing that the right of citizens to vote is a fundamental right; it is the duty of federal, state, and local governments to promote the exercise of the right to vote; and the primary purpose of the act is to increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact the California New Motor Voter Program to provide California citizens additional opportunities to participate in democracy through exercise of their fundamental right to vote.
(a) Voter registration is one of the biggest barriers to participation in our democracy.
(b) In 1993, Congress enacted the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), commonly known as the "Motor Voter Law," with findings recognizing that the right of citizens to vote is a fundamental right; it is the duty of federal, state, and local governments to promote the exercise of the right to vote; and the primary purpose of the act is to increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact the California New Motor Voter Program to provide California citizens additional opportunities to participate in democracy through exercise of their fundamental right to vote.
(a) The Secretary of State and the Department of Motor
Vehicles shall establish the California New Motor Voter Program for
the purpose of increasing opportunities for voter registration by any
person who is qualified to be a voter under Section 2 of Article II
of the California Constitution.
(b) This chapter shall not be construed as requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to determine eligibility for voter registration and voting. The Secretary of State is solely responsible for determining eligibility for voter registration and voting.
(b) This chapter shall not be construed as requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to determine eligibility for voter registration and voting. The Secretary of State is solely responsible for determining eligibility for voter registration and voting.
(a) The Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with
the Secretary of State, shall establish a schedule and method for the
department to electronically provide to the Secretary of State the
records specified in this section.
(b) (1) The department shall provide to the Secretary of State, in a manner and method to be determined by the department in consultation with the Secretary of State, the following information associated with each person who submits an application for a driver's license or identification card pursuant to Section 12800, 12815, or 13000 of the Vehicle Code, or who notifies the department of a change of address pursuant to Section 14600 of the Vehicle Code:
(A) Name.
(B) Date of birth.
(C) Either or both of the following, as contained in the department's records:
(i) Residence address.
(ii) Mailing address.
(D) Digitized signature, as described in Section 12950.5 of the Vehicle Code.
(E) Telephone number, if available.
(F) Email address, if available.
(G) Language preference.
(H) Political party preference.
(I) Whether the person chooses to become a permanent vote by mail voter.
(J) Whether the person affirmatively declined to become registered to vote during a transaction with the department.
(K) A notation that the applicant has attested that he or she meets all voter eligibility requirements, including United States citizenship, specified in Section 2101.
(L) Other information specified in regulations implementing this chapter.
(2) (A) The department may provide the records described in paragraph (1) to the Secretary of State before the Secretary of State certifies that all of the conditions set forth in subdivision (e) of this section have been satisfied. Records provided pursuant to this paragraph shall only be used for the purposes of outreach and education to eligible voters conducted by the Secretary of State.
(B) The Secretary shall provide materials created for purposes of outreach and education as described in this paragraph in languages other than English, as required by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).
(c) The Secretary of State shall not sell, transfer or allow any third party access to the information acquired from the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this chapter without approval of the department, except as permitted by this chapter and Section 2194.
(d) The department shall not electronically provide records of a person who applies for or is issued a driver's license pursuant to Section 12801.9 of the Vehicle Code because he or she is unable to submit satisfactory proof that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.
(e) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall commence implementation of this section no later than one year after the Secretary of State certifies all of the following:
(1) The State has a statewide voter registration database that complies with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Section 20901 et seq.).
(2) The Legislature has appropriated the funds necessary for the Secretary of State and the Department of Motor Vehicles to implement and maintain the California New Motor Voter Program.
(3) The regulations required by Section 2270 have been adopted.
(f) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not electronically provide records pursuant to this section that contain a home address designated as confidential pursuant to Section 1808.2, 1808.4, or 1808.6 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) (1) The department shall provide to the Secretary of State, in a manner and method to be determined by the department in consultation with the Secretary of State, the following information associated with each person who submits an application for a driver's license or identification card pursuant to Section 12800, 12815, or 13000 of the Vehicle Code, or who notifies the department of a change of address pursuant to Section 14600 of the Vehicle Code:
(A) Name.
(B) Date of birth.
(C) Either or both of the following, as contained in the department's records:
(i) Residence address.
(ii) Mailing address.
(D) Digitized signature, as described in Section 12950.5 of the Vehicle Code.
(E) Telephone number, if available.
(F) Email address, if available.
(G) Language preference.
(H) Political party preference.
(I) Whether the person chooses to become a permanent vote by mail voter.
(J) Whether the person affirmatively declined to become registered to vote during a transaction with the department.
(K) A notation that the applicant has attested that he or she meets all voter eligibility requirements, including United States citizenship, specified in Section 2101.
(L) Other information specified in regulations implementing this chapter.
(2) (A) The department may provide the records described in paragraph (1) to the Secretary of State before the Secretary of State certifies that all of the conditions set forth in subdivision (e) of this section have been satisfied. Records provided pursuant to this paragraph shall only be used for the purposes of outreach and education to eligible voters conducted by the Secretary of State.
(B) The Secretary shall provide materials created for purposes of outreach and education as described in this paragraph in languages other than English, as required by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).
(c) The Secretary of State shall not sell, transfer or allow any third party access to the information acquired from the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this chapter without approval of the department, except as permitted by this chapter and Section 2194.
(d) The department shall not electronically provide records of a person who applies for or is issued a driver's license pursuant to Section 12801.9 of the Vehicle Code because he or she is unable to submit satisfactory proof that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.
(e) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall commence implementation of this section no later than one year after the Secretary of State certifies all of the following:
(1) The State has a statewide voter registration database that complies with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Section 20901 et seq.).
(2) The Legislature has appropriated the funds necessary for the Secretary of State and the Department of Motor Vehicles to implement and maintain the California New Motor Voter Program.
(3) The regulations required by Section 2270 have been adopted.
(f) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not electronically provide records pursuant to this section that contain a home address designated as confidential pursuant to Section 1808.2, 1808.4, or 1808.6 of the Vehicle Code.
(a) The willful, unauthorized disclosure of information
obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section
2263 to any person, or the use of any false representation to obtain
any of that information or the use of any of that information for a
purpose other than as stated in Section 2263, is a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) or
imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or both fine
and imprisonment.
(b) The Secretary of State shall establish procedures to protect the confidentiality of the information acquired from the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 2263. The disclosure of this information shall be governed by the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), and the Secretary of State shall account for any disclosures, including those due to security breaches, in accordance with that act.
(b) The Secretary of State shall establish procedures to protect the confidentiality of the information acquired from the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 2263. The disclosure of this information shall be governed by the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), and the Secretary of State shall account for any disclosures, including those due to security breaches, in accordance with that act.
(a) The records of a person designated in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (b) of Section 2263 shall constitute a completed
affidavit of registration and the Secretary of State shall register
the person to vote, unless any of the following conditions is
satisfied:
(1) The person's records, as described in Section 2263, reflect that he or she affirmatively declined to become registered to vote during a transaction with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(2) The person's records, as described in Section 2263, do not reflect that he or she has attested to meeting all voter eligibility requirements specified in Section 2101.
(3) The Secretary of State determines that the person is ineligible to vote.
(b) (1) If a person who is registered to vote pursuant to this chapter does not provide a party preference, his or her party preference shall be designated as "Unknown" and he or she shall be treated as a "No Party Preference" voter.
(2) A person whose party preference is designated as "Unknown" pursuant to this subdivision shall not be counted for purposes of determining the total number of voters registered on the specified day preceding an election, as required by subdivision (b) of Section 5100 and subdivision (c) of Section 5151.
(1) The person's records, as described in Section 2263, reflect that he or she affirmatively declined to become registered to vote during a transaction with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(2) The person's records, as described in Section 2263, do not reflect that he or she has attested to meeting all voter eligibility requirements specified in Section 2101.
(3) The Secretary of State determines that the person is ineligible to vote.
(b) (1) If a person who is registered to vote pursuant to this chapter does not provide a party preference, his or her party preference shall be designated as "Unknown" and he or she shall be treated as a "No Party Preference" voter.
(2) A person whose party preference is designated as "Unknown" pursuant to this subdivision shall not be counted for purposes of determining the total number of voters registered on the specified day preceding an election, as required by subdivision (b) of Section 5100 and subdivision (c) of Section 5151.
A person registered to vote under this chapter may cancel his
or her voter registration at any time by any method available to any
other registered voter.
This chapter does not affect the confidentiality of a person'
s voter registration information, which remains confidential pursuant
to Section 2194 of this code and Section 6254.4 of the Government
Code and for all of the following persons:
(a) A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking pursuant to Section 2166.5.
(b) A reproductive health care service provider, employee, volunteer, or patient pursuant to Section 2166.5.
(c) A public safety officer pursuant to Section 2166.7.
(d) A person with a life-threatening circumstance upon court order pursuant to Section 2166.
(a) A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking pursuant to Section 2166.5.
(b) A reproductive health care service provider, employee, volunteer, or patient pursuant to Section 2166.5.
(c) A public safety officer pursuant to Section 2166.7.
(d) A person with a life-threatening circumstance upon court order pursuant to Section 2166.
If a person who is ineligible to vote becomes registered to
vote pursuant to this chapter in the absence of a violation by that
person of Section 18100, that person's registration shall be presumed
to have been effected with official authorization and not the fault
of that person.
If a person who is ineligible to vote becomes registered to
vote pursuant to this chapter and votes or attempts to vote in an
election held after the effective date of the person's registration,
that person shall be presumed to have acted with official
authorization and shall not be guilty of fraudulently voting or
attempting to vote pursuant to Section 18560, unless that person
willfully votes or attempts to vote knowing that he or she is not
entitled to vote.
The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations to implement
this chapter, including regulations addressing both of the following:
(a) A process for canceling the registration of a person who is ineligible to vote, but became registered under the California New Motor Voter Program in the absence of any violation by that person of Section 18100.
(b) An education and outreach campaign informing voters about the California New Motor Voter Program that the Secretary of State will conduct to implement this chapter. The Secretary may use any public and private funds available for this and shall provide materials created for this outreach and education campaign in languages other than English, as required by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).
(a) A process for canceling the registration of a person who is ineligible to vote, but became registered under the California New Motor Voter Program in the absence of any violation by that person of Section 18100.
(b) An education and outreach campaign informing voters about the California New Motor Voter Program that the Secretary of State will conduct to implement this chapter. The Secretary may use any public and private funds available for this and shall provide materials created for this outreach and education campaign in languages other than English, as required by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).
