§20504 — Title 52 Voting and Elections | U.S. Code

Summary

When you apply for or renew a driver’s license, that form must also act as a voter registration form for federal elections unless you do not sign the voter section. If you do sign it, it will update any earlier voter registration you have. If you choose not to sign, the fact you declined can only be used for voter registration purposes. Filling out a driver’s license change-of-address form will also update your voter address unless you say it should not. States must put a voter registration form on the driver’s license application. The voter part cannot repeat information already on the license form except a second signature or other needed items. It may only ask for the smallest amount of information needed to stop duplicate registrations and check eligibility. The form must list the eligibility rules (including citizenship), ask you to confirm you meet them, and require your signature under penalty of perjury. It must also include certain federally required ID info and clear statements that declining to register or the office where you apply will stay confidential and be used only for voter registration. The DMV must send completed voter forms to election officials within 10 days of acceptance, or within 5 days if the application was accepted within 5 days of the registration deadline.

Title 52, §20504

Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Each State motor vehicle driver’s license application (including any renewal application) submitted to the appropriate State motor vehicle authority under State law shall serve as an application for voter registration with respect to elections for Federal office unless the applicant fails to sign the voter registration application.

(2)An application for voter registration submitted under paragraph (1) shall be considered as updating any previous voter registration by the applicant.

(b)No information relating to the failure of an applicant for a State motor vehicle driver’s license to sign a voter registration application may be used for any purpose other than voter registration.

(c)(1)Each State shall include a voter registration application form for elections for Federal office as part of an application for a State motor vehicle driver’s license.

(2)The voter registration application portion of an application for a State motor vehicle driver’s license—

(A)may not require any information that duplicates information required in the driver’s license portion of the form (other than a second signature or other information necessary under subparagraph (C));

(B)may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to—

(i)prevent duplicate voter registrations; and

(ii)enable State election officials to assess the eligibility of the applicant and to administer voter registration and other parts of the election process;

(C)shall include a statement that—

(i)states each eligibility requirement (including citizenship);

(ii)contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement; and

(iii)requires the signature of the applicant, under penalty of perjury;

(D)shall include, in print that is identical to that used in the attestation portion of the application—

(i)the information required in section 20507(a)(5)(A) and (B) of this title;

(ii)a statement that, if an applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has declined to register will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes; and

(iii)a statement that if an applicant does register to vote, the office at which the applicant submits a voter registration application will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes; and

(E)shall be made available (as submitted by the applicant, or in machine readable or other format) to the appropriate State election official as provided by State law.

(d)Any change of address form submitted in accordance with State law for purposes of a State motor vehicle driver’s license shall serve as notification of change of address for voter registration with respect to elections for Federal office for the registrant involved unless the registrant states on the form that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes.

(e)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), a completed voter registration portion of an application for a State motor vehicle driver’s license accepted at a State motor vehicle authority shall be transmitted to the appropriate State election official not later than 10 days after the date of acceptance.

(2)If a registration application is accepted within 5 days before the last day for registration to vote in an election, the application shall be transmitted to the appropriate State election official not later than 5 days after the date of acceptance.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1973gg–3 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

§20504 Simultaneous application for voter registration and application for motor vehicle driver’s license

Summary

Title 52, §20504

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata