OLYMPIA – Over 40 percent of voters in Washington state register to vote when getting their driver’s license, something that was made possible thanks to passage of the state’s “motor voter law” in 1990. But this popular voter registration option is not available to most youth when they go to receive their first driver’s license.
Rep. Andy Billig (D-Spokane) is proposing legislation to allow youth who are at least 16 years old but haven’t yet reached the age of 18 to register to vote at the time they obtain their driver’s license. The measure, House Bill 2205, received a public hearing today before the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee.
“The 18-24 age group has lower voter registration than any other age group in our state,” Billig said. “And it’s not surprising, because they’re missing out on the opportunity that most people use to register.”
Eight other states, along with the District of Columbia, allow those under the age of 18 to register to vote. Youth who sign up are still not eligible to vote until their 18th birthday.
Those speaking in favor of the bill during today’s hearing included representatives from the Associated Students of the University of Washington and Eastern Washington University, the Washington Bus, and the League of Women Voters.
If the bill passes out of the State Government and Tribal Affairs committee, it would be one step closer to a full vote of the House, something that Billig and the bill’s supporters are hoping will happen.
“This is about promoting equal access to voter registration for all our citizens,” Billig said. “We’re excluding a segment of our population from motor voter registration, when we instead should be expanding voter participation and civic engagement.”