The California Motor Voter program

The California Motor Voter program is making registering to vote at the Department of Motor

Vehicles (DMV) more convenient and secure. Starting in April 2018, eligible applicants

completing driver license or identification (ID) card or change of address transactions will be

registered to vote by the California Secretary of State (SOS) unless they choose to opt out of

automatic voter registration.

About

Since 1993, the National Voter Registration Act, often known as the Motor Voter law, has

helped millions of people register to vote or update their voter information during a driver

license or ID card transaction at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The California Motor Voter program applies to Californians who are 18 or older and meet the

following criteria:

• A United States citizen and a resident of California.

• Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony (for

more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see the

Secretary of State's Voting Rights: Persons with a Criminal History), and

• Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information,

please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship).

Voter pre-registration is available for Californians who are 16 or 17 years old. They will

automatically be registered to vote when they turn 18. Before visiting a DMV field office, we

recommend making an appointment. You can also use DMV online services to renew your

driver license or ID card or change your address.

If you indicate that you are eligible to vote, once you complete your DMV transaction online, by

mail, or in person, your voter information is transmitted securely and electronically to the

California Secretary of State. Once your eligibility to vote is determined, you will be registered

to vote.

Individuals with AB 60 driver's licenses are not eligible to participate in the California Motor

Voter program and are not eligible to vote.

Motor Voter FAQ

• What is Motor Voter?

Federal law requires the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide

customers the opportunity to register to vote while completing a driver license (DL) or

identification (ID) card or change of address transaction.

Under state law and the California Motor Voter program, DMV customers who indicate

they are eligible to vote will be automatically registered to vote, unless they opt out

during their DL/ID or change of address transaction.

• How do I know if I am eligible to register and vote?

In order to be eligible to vote, an individual must be:

1. A United States citizen

2. Have a residence address in California

3. At least 18 years old (or pre-register if 16 or 17, but must be 18 or older to vote

on Election Day)

4. Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony,

and

5. Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

• How do I know if I have U.S. citizenship?

If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after

birth. To become a citizen at birth, you must:

o Have been born in the United States or certain territories or outlying possessions

of the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or

o Had a parent or parents who were citizens at the time of your birth (if you

were born abroad) and meet other requirements

To become a citizen after birth, you must:

o Apply for “derived” or “acquired” citizenship through parents

o Apply for naturalization through United States Customs and Immigration

Services

For more information, visit https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship. If you do not meet

the above, you are not a citizen and not eligible to register to vote.

• Can non-citizens register to vote?

No.

• Will I be automatically registered to vote when I apply for or renew my driver license?

Yes. All eligible individuals completing driver license or ID card or change of address

transactions will be registered to vote by the Secretary of State unless they choose to

opt out of automatic voter registration.

• Will I be automatically registered to vote when completing other transactions at the

DMV?

No. The California Motor Voter program covers driver license, ID card, and change of

address transactions. If you aren’t completing one of these transactions, you can still

• I am under 18, will I be registered to vote when I apply for my learner’s permit?

Individuals 16 to 17 years old applying for their learner’s permit who meet all other voter

eligibility requirements will be automatically pre-registered to vote, unless they opt

out. If you pre-register, you will automatically be registered to vote on your

birthday.

• I’m under 18 but will be eligible to vote in the next statewide election. Will I be

automatically registered to vote?

Yes. Individuals 16 to 17 years old completing a driver license or ID card transaction who

meet all other voter eligibility requirements will be pre-registered to vote, unless they

choose to opt out. Once you are pre-registered to vote, you will automatically be

registered to vote on your 18

birthday.

• Will I be able to choose a political party when I’m automatically registered?

Yes. You can select your political party as part of automatic registration. You can also

choose other voter preferences, such as whether you would like to vote by mail or which

language you would like to receive your election materials.

• What happens if I move, am I still registered to vote?

Yes, but you will be registered under the prior address and you must change your

address if you want to vote at your new address. If you change your address with DMV,

your voter record will be updated with your new address. However, you can also update

your registration information at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or use a paper voter registration

application available at your county elections office, libraries, or a U.S. Post Office.

• Will I get confirmation that I am registered to vote?

After DMV processes your transaction, you will receive a voter notification card within

four weeks from your county elections official or the Secretary of State. If you have not

received the notification card in that time frame, you should contact your local county

elections official or visit VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov.

• How can I find out if I'm already registered to vote?

Visit https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ to verify your voter registration status. You can also

contact your county elections office. Find your nearest county elections office by

visiting: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices

• What if I don’t want to register to vote?

If you meet voter eligibility requirements, but do not want to register to vote, you can

choose to opt out of automatically being registered to vote.

• Does registering to vote make me more likely to get called for jury duty?

Not necessarily, however, the DMV provides the jury commissioner with a current list of

driver license and ID card holders who are 18 years or older. All persons selected for jury

services are selected at random and sources may include customer mailing lists,

telephone directories, or utility company lists.

• How do I opt out?

When completing a driver license DL/ID or change of address transaction with the DMV,

you will be asked if you meet the voter eligibility requirements. If you indicate that you

are eligible, you will be presented with a choice to opt out of voter registration.

• If I opt out will DMV still send my information to the Secretary of State?

State law requires DMV to send information on all eligible applicants to the Secretary of

State. The Secretary of State will send a postcard to all eligible voters who choose to opt

out as a reminder about registering to vote. The Secretary of State will not contact you

further unless you decide to register to vote or have another qualifying DMV transaction.

• If I indicate that I am not eligible to vote, will the DMV still send my information to the

Secretary of State?

No. DMV will not send your information to the Secretary of State if you indicate that you

are not eligible to vote.

• If I register to vote by accident, and I didn't want to, can I undo it?

Yes. You can complete the cancellation request form,

https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/pdfs/cancellation-request-form.pdf, and return it to your

county elections official and your registration will be cancelled. You can contact your

county elections official if you have more questions.

• How will the DMV system ensure only U.S. Citizens are registered to vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of California, 18 years old

or older on Election Day, not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the

conviction of a felony, and not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

State law prohibits DMV from sending information for AB 60 applicants (undocumented

driver license applicants) to the Secretary of State. For other applicants, state law

requires each person to declare, under penalty of perjury, that they meet all voter

eligibility requirements, including citizenship.

• Can felons register to vote?

A person who is currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a

felony is not eligible to register to vote (for more information on the rights of people who

have been incarcerated, please see the Secretary of State's Voting Rights: Persons with a

Criminal History).

• What does the DMV and Secretary of State do with my voter registration information?

State law requires DMV to submit information on all eligible driver license and ID

applicants to the Secretary of State to either process your voter registration or, if you

choose to opt out of voter registration, to send a reminder about registering to vote. If

your voter registration information is incomplete, the Secretary of State will follow up

with you by mail. Once your voter registration has been processed and accepted, your

information will be shared with your county elections official. You will be eligible to vote

in local, county, statewide and federal elections.

• Where is my nearest DMV field office?

You can search for your nearest field office at www.dmv.ca.gov. There is a Field Office

Finder option on the front of the homepage

Motor Voter Public Service Announcement

The California Motor Voter Program makes registering to vote at the DMV more convenient.

Now, all eligible applicants completing driver license, ID, or change of address transactions at

the DMV will be registered to vote by the California Secretary of State, unless they choose to

opt out.

Voter pre-registration is also available for eligible Californians who are 16 or 17 years old.

Learn more by visiting MotorVoter.sos.ca.gov

One-Page Flyer:

If you’re eligible, you will be automatically registered to vote at the DMV when you:

• Apply for a driver license or ID card

• Renew a driver license or ID card

• Change your address

Unless you choose to opt out. This includes pre-registration for eligible 16 and 17 year olds. Learn

more about the California Motor Voter program and voter eligibility requirements at:

https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/california-motor-voter