§ 21-A §232 — Automatic registration by the bureau

1.
Application for driver's license or nondriver identification card; creation of pending voter registration record.
If an individual applies for, renews or updates a driver's license or nondriver identification card from the bureau, unless the individual opts out under section 234, the bureau shall record the documentation provided by the individual that provides proof of voter eligibility and create a pending voter registration record for that individual, which must be stored electronically in the bureau's database. The pending voter registration record and the record of the accompanying documentation must be in a searchable, auditable format.
2.
Proof of citizenship.
If an individual in the course of business with the bureau provides a document that proves the individual is a United States citizen, the pending voter registration record of that individual in the bureau's database must indicate that the individual has fulfilled the citizenship eligibility requirement for the purpose of registering to vote.
3.
Electronic transmission of voter registration data.
Unless the individual has opted out of automatic voter registration as provided in section 234, if an individual's pending voter registration record establishes voter eligibility, the bureau shall transmit electronically the individual's pending voter registration record to the applicable registrar of voters in a format that may be reviewed by the registrar and converted and uploaded into the central voter registration system.
4.
Registration of individual or update of individual's registration record.
The registrar of voters shall determine whether an individual whose pending voter registration record was transmitted under subsection 3 is eligible to and registered to vote in the central voter registration system. If the individual is eligible to vote but is not registered in the central voter registration system, the registrar shall enter the individual's information into the central voter registration system. If the individual is registered to vote, the registrar shall enter any changes to the address or name of the individual in the central voter registration system to ensure that the voting lists are kept current.
5.
Implementation.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the bureau may conduct the activities in subsections 1 to 3 beginning January 1, 2022 but is not required to comply with the requirements of subsections 1 to 3 until June 1, 2022.

Legislative History

PL 2019, c. 409, §6 (NEW). PL 2019, c. 409, §9 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 273, §§3, 4 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 273, §30 (AFF).