VRM in the States: California

Voter Registration Modernization

• AJR 36: A bill introduced in the last session of the California Legislature urged the United States Congress and President of the United States to enact the federal Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2009, which would provide online voter registration and bar purging voters for not voting.

Automated Registration

• California currently sends change of address data from DMVs to election officials electronically when people who have moved within a county update their DMV file and wish to update their voter registration as well. Cross-county changes, however, require a signed form from DMV.

Election Day Registration

• S.B. 641: This bill establishes "one-stop voting," allowing a person to register to vote and immediately vote on Election Day or during the early voting period.

Online Registration

• In 2008 Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill authorizing online voter registration. Officials currently plan to introduce an online system in 2014.
• S.B. 397: Under existing law--and once the state complies with the requirements to maintain a statewide voter registration database under the Help America Vote Act of 2002--an eligible citizen who has a valid state ID may submit a voter registration application electronically, via the Secretary of State's web site. This bill authorizes county elections officials to develop their own online voter registration web sites. Provisions under this bill would only be effective until the state is in compliance with HAVA.

Pre-Registration

• A.B. 30 [pdf]: Legislation passed in last session of the California Legislature allows a seventeen year-old person to submit an affidavit of registration which will become effective once he or she turns eighteen.