A Democratic lawmaker has re-filed a bill seeking to automatically register Florida voters, and some say strengthening the state’s motor voter law is a step in the right direction.
Currently, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles officials are supposed to ask eligible residents getting or renewing their driver’s license if they would like to register to vote. But, Florida League of Women Voters President Deirdre Macnab says that’s often not the case.
“Often times, training is sporadic and not consistent with the individuals that do work in Motor Vehicle departments,” said Macnab.
So, she says her group would likely support a bill authored by Lake Worth Democratic Senator Jeff Clemens to enshrine the practice in law.
“So, having something that is more automatic would mean that there would be a cleaner, easier coverage, and individuals registering for a driver’s license might not fall beneath the cracks as they often do,” she added.
Clemens’ bill also allows residents to opt out of registering to vote. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says the agency has not taken a position on the legislation.
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