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Getting A License—Would You Like A Ballot With That?

Rep. Williams (D-Tallahassee) thinks the path to the ballot box runs through the DMV.
Erik Hersman via Flickr

It’s an election year and that means the parties are thinking long and hard about voter turnout.  Democrats want to make it easier to register voters while those voters register their cars.

Since the early nineties Americans have been able to register to vote when they visit the DMV, but in many states it’s on a separate form.  Now Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) says Florida should join other states in bringing the systems together.

“What will happen once this bill is passed,” Williams says, “is that this really takes another step to modernize the voter registration process by allowing eligible voters to be automatically registered when they obtain a new or update their existing driver’s license at the motor vehicle office.”

Recent legislation in Oregon and California automatically registers anyone who is eligible to vote unless they opt out.  Williams’ bill doesn’t go that far but it does make it easier for eligible Floridians to opt in.  Williams is running to be Leon County’s next supervisor of elections. 

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.