Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Increases protections for domestic violence victims as part of driver’s license application or renewal.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning voter registration and amending P.L.1994, c.182.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 23 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:3-10m) is amended to read as follows:
23. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, each in-person applicant, who meets all requirements for eligibility to vote, for a State motor vehicle driver's license, an examination permit, a probationary driver's license, or a non-driver identification card application, including any new application [for a renewal or update thereof], except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection b. of section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2), submitted to an agent of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall be offered an opportunity to decline the automatic voter registration pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:2-3.2).
b. The commission shall include on the electronic signature pad system a notification to applicants who are subject to section 1 of P.L.1994, c.148 (C.19:31-3.2) that they may register to vote or update their voter registration information without disclosing their street address, and shall direct the applicants to the appropriate agency in order to do so.
(cf: P.L.2018, c.6, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, but the chief administrator may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to offer a person an opportunity to update her or his voter registration information on the commission’s electronic signature pad system, and provides increased protections for domestic violence victims.
Under current law, each applicant for a driver’s license is offered by the MVC an opportunity to simultaneously register to vote. The bill provides that the MVC would be required to include on the electronic signature pad system a notification to any applicant who is a victim of domestic violence or stalking, and is authorized by law to withhold disclosure of her or his street address when registering to vote, that the applicant may register to vote or update voter registration information without disclosing a street address. The MVC would also be required to direct the applicants to the appropriate agency in order to register or update the information.
This bill would ensure that the MVC’s automated system provides greater protection for victims of domestic violence and stalking by notifying them that they may register to vote or update their voter registration information without disclosing their street address, as recommended by the Governor in 2016.