Automatic/Universal Registration: Universal voter registration is a government-run system that automatically registers all eligible citizens to vote. Instead of contending with the confusing and potentially fraudulent current system, which leaves the construction of voter rolls to private voter registration organizations and election officials, with universal voter registration the government’s automatic process eliminates the haphazard complexity of voter rolls.

Hawaii:

Law Number: HI H 48 Elections Requirements 
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 01/31/11
Author: Rhoads (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Associated Bills: HI S 1111 - Companion
Summary: Requires that all applicants for driver's licenses or state identification cards, if determined to be eligible, be automatically registered to vote.

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Law Number: HI S 208 Voter Registration 
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 01/24/11 
Author: Ihara (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Enacts the Universal Voter Registration Act.

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Law Number:  HI S 1111 Elections 
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 01/26/11
Author: Ihara (D) Additional Authors: Fukunaga (D);Baker (D);Galuteria (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Associated Bills: HI H 48 - Companion
Summary: Requires that all applicants for driver's licenses or state identification cards, if determined to be eligible, be automatically registered to vote.

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Law Number: HI H 1177 Voter Registration 
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 01/26/11
Author: Oshiro M (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Requires a person to be registered to vote to be issued a driver's license or driver's license renewal, or to be employed by the State or county, beginning on January 1, 2013, requires the Chief Election Officer to establish procedures with the Director of Human Resources, and County Mayors and Chief Clerks, and report back to the 2012 Legislature.

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Massachusetts:
    
Law Number: MA S 296 Elections
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 10/20/11
Author: Chang-Diaz (D)
Topics: Registration
Summary: Establishes permanent voter registration for those who move within the Commonwealth.

Minnesota:
    
Law Number: MN H 510 Elections
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 02/24/11
Author: Simon (DFL)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Relates to elections, changes certain voter registration requirements and provisions.

New Jersey:
    
Law Number: NJ A 948 Voter Registration
2012 Status: Pending - Assembly State Government Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/12/10
Author: Vainieri Huttle (D)  Additional Authors: Johnson (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Presumes motor vehicle registrant wants to register to vote at time of registration, unless person specifically declines.

New York:
    
Law Number: NY A 1712 Automatic Voter Registration Act
2012 Status: Pending - Assembly Election Law Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/06/12
Author: Kavanagh (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Enacts the "automatic voter registration act", requires the department of motor vehicles and the department of taxation and finance to transmit the names and addresses of persons who are U.S. citizens and residents of this state, and who will be 18 years old by the next general election to the state board of elections, provides that the state board of elections shall forward such names to the appropriate boards of elections.

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Law Number: NY S 1974 Automatic Voter Registration Act
2012 Status: Pending - Senate Elections Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/05/12
Author: Gianaris (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Enacts the "automatic voter registration act", requires the department of motor vehicles and the department of taxation and finance to transmit the names and addresses of persons who are U.S citizens and residents of this state, and who will be 18 years old by the next general election to the state board of elections, provides that the state board of elections shall forward such names to the appropriate boards of elections.

Oregon:
    
Law Number: OR H 3061 Voter Registration
2012 Status: Failed - Adjourned - House Rules Committee
Date of Last Action: 06/30/11 
Author: Cannon (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Provides for automatic voter registration of person who applies for issuance or renewal of driver license, state identification card or change of address, unless person declines to register to vote, allows county clerk to make official ballot available to persons automatically registered to vote by mail or at office of county clerk or other designated location, becomes operative on January 1, 2012, declares emergency, effective on passage.

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Law Number: OR H 3062 Voter Registration
2012 Status: Failed - Adjourned - House Rules Committee
Date of Last Action:  06/30/11 
Author: Cannon (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Provides for automatic voter registration of person who applies for issuance or renewal of driver license, state identification card or change of address, unless person declines to register to vote, becomes operative on January 1, 2012, declares emergency, effective on passage.

Texas:
    
Law Number: TX H 715 Drivers License Changes and Voter Registration
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 03/23/11
Author: Hochberg (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Relates to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a driver's license or identification card by the Department of Public Safety.

Vermont:
    
Law Number: VT H 357 Voter Checklist
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 02/25/11
Author: Pearson (P)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Proposes to allow a person 16 to 18 years of age with state identification to be placed on the statewide voter checklist when he or she reaches 18 years of age.

West Virginia:
    
Law Number: WV H 2602 Voter Registration and Driver Licensing Fund
2012 Status: Failed - Adjourned - House
Date of Last Action: 02/18/11
Author: Brown (D)
Topics: Registration-Universal
Summary: Relates to authorizing the Secretary of State to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the combined voter registration and driver licensing fund.

Last Updated 06/1112