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Committee approves bill to flag temporary credentials from BMV to protect noncitizens from inadvertent registration
Summary
Senate Bill 137 was approved unanimously after sponsors said the bill clarifies that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles must include a temporary‑credential flag in data transmitted to the statewide voter registration system so counties can follow up when registrations are submitted with temporary documents.
The House Elections and Apportionment Committee unanimously advanced Senate Bill 137, which requires the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to include temporary‑credential indicators with driver‑license data the BMV transmits to the statewide voter‑registration system. Committee members said the change is intended to protect foreign nationals and other temporary‑credential holders from inadvertently registering or voting and jeopardizing immigration status.
Senator Bechaczek, the bill sponsor, described motor‑voter processes and said the bill "puts a safeguard" in place so registrations submitted with temporary credentials are flagged and the county clerk can contact the registrant to request documentation needed to perfect the registration.
Angie Nussmeyer, co‑director of the Election Division, told the committee the division already receives temporary‑credential information from the BMV and that counties have access to it: "The way I view this bill is that it clarifies another part of state law to ensure that the data packet that the BMV transmits to us does include it so that when we engage in an MOU with their agency... that temporary credential information will be passed along to us." Keegan Prentice from the Secretary of State's office said the Secretary's office supports the bill and views the change as clarifying existing Indiana Code language.
Common Cause Indiana's executive director, Julia Vaughn, opposed the bill, saying the matches could be dated and cause incorrect flags for people who have naturalized: "There will be people identified as noncitizens who have gone through the naturalization process and become citizens," she said, urging the committee to reject the measure as unnecessary.
Witnesses and lawmakers discussed outreach to immigrant communities and whether naturalization records can be used to clear flags; several speakers said the division and community groups plan to inform new citizens about the law. The committee approved the bill by roll call, 13 to 0.
