Panel debates automatic voter registration expansion; health exchange and returning-citizen provisions draw support and technical questions

Senate Bill 5077, heard Jan. 21 by the Senate Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee, would authorize the governor, after consulting with the Secretary of State, to designate additional state, local, federal and tribal agencies that may provide automatic voter registration or update existing registrations. The bill would also create an opt-out process for the Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) to provide applicant information to the Secretary of State for automatic registration and would clarify how returning citizens’ registrations are handled if the Department of Corrections is designated.

William Bridges, committee staff, told the committee the measure would require agencies selected by the governor to implement a process substantially similar to the Department of Licensing’s enhanced-driver’s-license model for automatic registration. Under staff summary, HBE…