I am excited to share that California Motor Voter — the state’s automatic voter registration program — is set to launch in 2 months! Let me tell you why this is so important.
As you’ve heard, dozens of states across the country are changing their laws to make it harder for eligible Americans to register to vote or to cast their ballot. I’ve been resisting these voter suppression efforts, but I’ve also been hard at work in California to improve ballot access.
In 2015, my first legislative initiative as Secretary of State was to call for the adoption of automatic voter registration. The legislature passed and Governor Brown signed AB 1461 authored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher.
When launched in April, eligible Californians will be registered to vote when they apply for or renew their driver’s license or state ID. Experts predict we will add millions of new voters to the rolls in the next few years. Along with the Voters Choice Act, Pre-Registration of 16- and 17-year-olds, and Same Day Voter Registration, we are making it easier for Californians to participate in our democracy.
With your support, I’ve worked to make California the national leader in protecting the right to vote and in eliminating unnecessary barriers to the ballot.
I’m asking for your support once again. I’d be honored to serve as Secretary of State for four more years and to continue to defend and strengthen our right to vote.
Sincerely,
Alex Padilla
California Secretary of State
