Mitchell: Governor vetoes measure to automatically register drivers to vote

(Thomas Mitchell, 4TH ST8) – May there be many more.

Gov. Brian Sandoval issued his first veto of the legislative session Tuesday, rejecting Initiative Petition 1 that would have required the Department of Motor Vehicles to send information about anyone obtaining a driver’s license to voting registrars to facilitate voter registration.

Since the measure cleared the Legislature on party line votes, there is no way Democrats can muster enough votes to override the veto. So now it goes to the voters in November 2018 election.

IP1 would have changed the current DMV voter registration from an opt-in to an opt-out. Sandoval said this substantive change would create the unnecessary risk that people who are not qualified to vote could unintentionally (or perhaps intentionally?) apply to vote, thus subjecting themselves to a fine of up to $20,000.

“IP1 fails to account for substantial differences between the qualifications to vote the qualifications to obtain driving privileges or identification cards,” the governor writes. “For instance, one must be 18 years old to to be eligible to vote, but one can be 16 years old to drive (and even younger to drive with an instructional permit). Non-citizens, some ex-felons and others may obtain driving privileges and identification cards, even though they cannot apply to register to vote.”

The current procedures applicants must swear they are eligible to vote, under penalty of perjury, and attest that they are citizens.

Mr. Mitchell publishes the 4TH ST8 Blog.

Column originally published at 4TH ST8.