Correspondence with Federal Agencies

In May 2008, the Secretary of State sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs asking the agency to designate itself as a voter registration agency and begin offering voter registration services under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). The designation helps ensure veterans who receive services from the agency's offices in a state have an equal opportunity to register to vote. This is particularly important for veterans who change their address when accepting federal benefits such as VA emergency housing, nursing home care, or rehabilitative care.

Under Presidential Executive Order 12926, the chief elections official of any state may ask a federal agency to designate itself as a voter registration agency and provide voter registration services. The Order requires federal agencies to accept the designation to the greatest extent practicable provided that doing so is consistent with the agency's legal authority and availability of funds.

On May 19, 2008, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs formally declined the Secretary's request. However, in September 2008, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reversed course and issued a directive permitting elections officials and non-partisan groups to provide voter registration services at VA hospitals and in-patient locations.

Copies of the Secretary's letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake and Secretary Peake's response to the Secretary of State are below:

In September 2009, the Secretary of State renewed the request to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and sent letters to the U.S. Social Security Administration, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asking these agencies to accept the designation as voter registration agencies under the NVRA and begin offering voter registration services.

Copies of the Secretary's letters to the agencies are below:

Coordination with California Department of Veterans Affairs

In May 2008, the Secretary of State met with the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) to improve voter registration opportunities for veterans and their families. Millions of veterans and their families receive benefits and services from the CDVA, which provides the agency and the Secretary of State with an opportunity to reach out and offer voter registration services.

Some of CDVA's services include:

  • A place to live and receive medical services through the Veterans Home of California, which has campuses in Yountville (Napa County), Barstow (San Bernardino County), and Chula Vista (San Diego County);
  • Home loans for veterans and their families through the CalVet Home Loan Program;
  • Legal advice and representation for veterans having trouble getting access to veteran benefits and services from the federal government; and
  • Education and career assistance by way of fee reductions and waivers at state colleges and universities, job training and placement programs, and hiring preferences in civil service jobs.

The Secretary of State and CDVA Secretary Thomas Johnson immediately implemented the following programs to encourage voter registration and improve outreach to veterans and their families:

  1. Including the Secretary of State's voter registration brochure, called "My Voice. My Choice. My Vote." in the welcome package CDVA mails to veterans who are returning from a tour of duty. The CDVA sends out about 22,000 welcome packages every year;
  2. Printing a voter registration notice on the back of all CalVet Loan bills three times a year. The notice will include a link to the Secretary of State's website (www.sos.ca.gov) and voter hotline number (800) 345-VOTE (8683.) (According to the CDVA, there are about 14,000 active CalVet loan holders);
  3. Providing a voter registration form to all residents at the three state Veterans Homes in Yountville, Barstow, and Chula Vista;
  4. Placing voter registration cards at all CDVA public counters, including CDVA regional administrative offices, CalVet service offices, and CalVet home loan offices; and
  5. Adding a "Register to Vote" button to the CDVA website, which links to the Secretary of State voter registration webpage.

Coordination with the California Health Benefit Exchange

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which provides new health insurance options for uninsured Americans. The ACA requires each state to establish and operate a Health Benefit Exchange, unless the state elects to have the federal government operate its Exchange. The Health Benefit Exchanges will allow millions of people who do not have health insurance to apply and be screened for eligibility for public assistance programs, such as government health insurance subsidies and Medicaid.

The California Health Benefit Exchange was established under the ACA and is required to offer – through one streamlined application process – eligibility screening and enrollment in public assistance programs such as MediCal, as well as government health insurance subsidies to be offered for the first time under the ACA.

Section 7 of the NVRA, 42 U.S.C. section 1973gg-5 (a)(2)(A), requires that "each state shall designate as voter registration agencies… all offices in the state that provide public assistance" (emphasis added). Since the California Health Benefit Exchange is a new state agency providing access to and enrollment in public assistance programs, the NVRA requires the agency to be designated, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 1973gg-5(a)(2)(A), as an NVRA voter registration agency.

On May 15, 2013, the Secretary of State designated the California Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) as an NVRA voter registration agency, pursuant to Section 7 of the NVRA, 42 U.S.C. section 1973gg-5 (a)(2)(A).

Copies of the Secretary's letter to the Exchange and the official declaration designating the Exchange as an NVRA agency are below: