AP15:069
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2015
CONTACT: Sam Mahood
Office: (916) 653-6575
Cell: (916) 661-2633
Los Angeles City Council Adopts Resolution Supporting California New Motor Voter Act
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council today passed a resolution urging Governor Jerry Brown to sign AB 1461—the California New Motor Voter Act.
The California New Motor Voter Act, sponsored by Secretary of State Alex Padilla, would register every eligible citizen who goes to a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to get a driver’s license or renew one, potentially adding millions of new registered voters to California’s voter rolls.
AB 1461 is jointly authored by Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). AB 1461 was passed by the legislature and is currently on Governor Brown’s desk.
“I thank the Los Angeles City Council for supporting our efforts to improve voter registration and civic participation in California,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “In Los Angeles County alone, nearly 1.2 million eligible citizens are not registered to vote. We must do more to boost California’s voter rolls and encourage civic engagement. The New Motor Voter Act would help remove barriers to voting for millions of Californians.”
Under the New Motor Voter Act, voters would retain their right to opt out or cancel their voter registration at any time, as well as change their party affiliation. The proposed law would continue to protect those covered by existing confidentiality policies, such as victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Registration has been a barrier to voting for millions of Californians. Approximately 6.6 million California citizens are eligible but not registered to vote.
Millions of Americans have been prevented from participating in elections because they are not registered to vote. A recent study using Google search data estimated that 3 million to 4 million Americans wanted to participate in the 2012 general election, but unfortunately could not vote because it was too late to register.
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