THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505240002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Another View
SOURCE: By BARBARA BALLARD
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
The National Voter Registration Act, known as the motor-voter, is a piece of legislation that has the average citizen in mind because it streamlines government.
Under the motor-voter, while you are at the motor-vehicle office or elsewhere conducting government business, you can register to vote. How simple and convenient. This is ``user friendly'' government.
Last November, Virginians voted to amend the state Constitution to facilitate implementation of the motor-voter in Virginia. Through their votes, Virginians said they wanted the motor-voter put into action.
Survey results, compiled for the National Motor-Voter Coalition, show that the motor-voter law works. Since taking effect in most states in January, hundreds of thousands of citizens have registered or updated their registration. Voter-registration rates under the motor-voter are three to 13 times higher than in previous years.
In Florida, during January, 105,742 people registered at the Division of Motor Vehicles, libraries, military-recruiting offices, public assistance and disabilities agencies and by mail, all taking advantage of the motor-voter act. According to Sam Chavers of the Florida Elections Division, the state registered voters at a rate four to five times higher than last year.
In Alabama, the secretary of state's office reported new registrations increasing by sixfold, from 2,243 in January 1993 to 15,815 in January 1995.
In Georgia, 52,452 citizens registered in January alone. The January number represented more than 61 percent of the total number of registrations for Georgia in all of 1994. According to Georgia Secretary of State Max Cleland, more than 2,000 people registered on the first day the program went into effect. He predicts a million new voters in time for the 1996 election.
Compared with 1994 figures, Marion County, Ind., registered 13 times as many voters; Pennington County, S.D., registered more than four times as many voters; and Lancaster County, Neb., registered three times as many voters.
The Kentucky Board of Elections reported that more than 18,400 people registered in January compared with 3,459 in January 1991; this was an increase of more than six times.
In Texas the secretary of state's office reported that 96,113 citizens took advantage of the new program.
In New Mexico the number of new voters registered on a monthly average was up 10 times the number registered in 1994, according to Bureau of Elections Director Denise Lamb.
In West Virginia, 6,250 new voters registered during January and February - 62 percent of the total number of registrations for all of 1992, a presidential-election year.
Implementing the motor-voter nationally and in Virginia will make the electorate larger, more diverse and more reflective of the American population. People who have traditionally been left out - people with lower incomes, people with disabilities, minorities, young people and anyone who has recently moved - will be able to take the critical first step to participate in the political process. This is democracy in action!
Governor Allen has challenged the motor-voter in court, objecting to the additional costs of implementation, labeling it an unfunded federal mandate. Yet Virginians voted last November to implement the motor-voter. So it is at the expense of the democratic process, at the expense of Virginians' time and convenience, and at the expense of Virginians' tax dollars that Governor Allen opposes the motor-voter.
The Virginia electorate has no objections to the motor-voter, having recognized the act as solid legislation that reduces bureaucratic barriers rather than an unfunded federal mandate. The Virginia electorate sees the benefits that the motor-voter act will bring. Why can't Governor Allen?
KEYWORDS: MOTOR VOTER VOTOR REGISTRATION DMV DIVISION OF MOTOR
VEHICLES REGISTER TO VOTE by CNB