Texas Senate Bill SB231

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

• Filed: 11/16/16

Caption

Relating to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a driver's license or identification card by the Department of Public Safety.

Impact

This legislation would amend existing election laws by adding a new section to the Election Code, specifically allowing automatic voter registration through transactions with the DPS. It ensures that the voter registrar is notified of a resident's eligibility when they apply for or modify their driver's license or ID, thereby integrating voter registration seamlessly into existing processes. This could lead to significant changes in the way voter registration is handled in Texas, contributing to a more efficient electoral process.

Summary

SB231 proposes an automatic voter registration system that operates in conjunction with the issuance or changes made to a driver's license or personal identification card by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in Texas. Under this bill, any county resident eligible to vote will be automatically registered when obtaining or updating their driver's license or ID, streamlining the voter registration process and potentially increasing voter participation. The bill aims to make voting more accessible by reducing the barriers associated with manual registration processes.

Contention

While the bill aims to facilitate voter registration, it may raise concerns regarding data privacy and the accuracy of information being passed from the DPS to local voter registrars. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups might argue that the automatic registration could lead to issues if individuals are not aware that their information is being used for this purpose or if they do not wish to register. Additionally, there may be questions about how changes made to personal information would be managed to ensure that all registered voters are indeed eligible and correctly registered.