The Independent View: IL Gov. Rauner to Sign Motor Voter Bill

While some States argue over Plans to make Voter Registration more Difficult, Illinois’ Political Leaders are agreeing to do just the Opposite.

In May, the General Assembly unanimously Passed a Bill, SB 1933, to link Voter Registration to the Act of Obtaining a Driver’s License or State ID. It’s called Automatic Voter Registration and nicknamed “Motor Voter.” On Monday, August 28th, Gov. Bruce Rauner will Sign the Bill. He Vetoed a Similar Measure in 2016, but Legislators tweaked it this year to get his support.

Automatic Voter Registration means Illinois Residents Automatically become Registered to Vote when they go to the Secretary of State’s Office to get a Driver’s License, as long as they are Age-Eligible. But wait, there’s more. Illinoisans also will be able to Register to Vote through other State Agencies.

There’s also an Opt-Out for those who don’t want to take Part in the Electoral Process, although we urge People not to Ignore that Vital element of Responsible Citizenship. A Right not used is a Right that Atrophies until no one Notices when it is taken away.

The Bill will not only make it much easier for People to Vote, but it will also guard strongly against Voter Fraud because People must Provide an Actual Address in order to get a Driver’s License or do other Business with the State. With Rauner’s action, Illinois becomes the 10th State, plus the District of Columbia, to have such a Law in place.

Illinois has lagged other States in Voter Participation among Young People and People of Color, and it’s hoped that Automatic Voter Registration will turn that around. If what happened in Oregon is replicated here, Voter Registration in Illinois could Increase by as much as One Million.

When Oregon Implemented Motor Voter in January 2016, turnout Increased by Six Percentage Points among Voters Age 18 to 29. Oregon also saw Registration among Voters of Color Increase by 26 Points, from 53% in 2012 to 79% in 2016, according to the Alliance for Youth Action.

Although we applaud the General Assembly and Gov. Rauner, we would be remiss if we didn’t point out that it’s just as Important to give Voters a Choice of Candidates at any Level. Often, Voters have only One Candidate from which to choose in General Elections because of Gerrymandering.

Illinois is one of the Retrograde States that allow Partisan Politicians to Redraw Congressional as well as State House and Senate Districts after each 10-year Census. The Majority Party Controls the Process, and in Illinois, that means the Democrats under House Speaker and Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan of Chicago. In Wisconsin, it means Republicans under Gov. Scott Walker.

That Fixes the Maps so few People have Real Choices over who their Representatives or Senators will be. We have long favored Redistricting Reform, but efforts to do that have been batted down by Illinois Democratic Judges Loyal to their Party rather than to the Integrity of the Democratic Process.

We continue to hope that one day soon Illinois will Progress to a Nonpartisan Redistricting Process, so that Universal Voter Registration is worthwhile in State and Congressional Elections.

UPDATE
On August 28th, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner Signed SB 1933, the Bill to provide that any Adult Citizen known by the State Government to Exist is Automatically Registered.