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SB-1295 Department of Motor Vehicles: voter registration: kiosks.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 02/21/2020 02:00 PM
SB1295:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1295


Introduced by Senator Bates

February 21, 2020


An act to add Section 1679.5 to the Vehicle Code, relating to voter registration.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1295, as introduced, Bates. Department of Motor Vehicles: voter registration: kiosks.
Existing federal law, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, provides for state departments of motor vehicles to make available voter registration information and materials to applicants for driver’s licenses and other vehicular documents. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to include in any document mailed by the department offering a person the opportunity to register to vote pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 a notice informing prospective voters that if they have not received voter registration information within 30 days of requesting it, they should contact their local elections office or the office of the Secretary of State. Existing law requires the department to provide to the Secretary of State the digitized signature of every person who registers to vote on the voter registration card provided by the department. Existing law further requires the department to provide the Secretary of State with change-of-address information for every voter who indicates that they desire to have their address changed for voter registration purposes.
This bill would require the department to include on the prompt screen on a freestanding kiosk that provides voter registration options, an option a person may choose that reads, “I’m already registered. Please do not edit or change my current registration.” If a person chooses that option, the bill would prohibit the department from providing any personal information of that person to the Secretary of State for voting purposes.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 1679.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

1679.5.
 (a) The department shall include on the prompt screen on a kiosk that provides voter registration, an option a person may choose that reads verbatim: “I’m already registered. Please do not edit or change my current registration.”
(b) If a person chooses the option in subdivision (a), the department shall not provide any personal information of that person to the Secretary of State for voting purposes.
(c) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Kiosk” means a freestanding kiosk of the department that allows a person to make department transactions, including, but not limited to, vehicle registrations.
(2) “Prompt screen” means the slide that asks, “Which best describes you?” or similar language with respect to whether you wish to register to vote, whether you are registered to vote and want to update your voter registration information, or whether you do not want to register to vote or update your voter registration information.
(3) “Voter registration” means a prompt that directs a person to voter registration questions and options.