Increasing voter participation is the aim a new law signed by Gov. Rauner on Aug. 28.
Senate Bill 1933 requires the Secretary of State and Board of Elections to establish an automatic voter registration program. The legislation provides that an application for a driver’s license, other than a temporary visitor’s driver’s license, or state identification card also serves as an application to register to vote in Illinois.
When applicants meet the standards of the REAL ID Act of 2005, and unless an applicant declines, the Secretary of State will transmit records to the State Board of Elections to complete the person’s registration. The system has safeguards, including address verification distinctions between IDs that meet the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 and those that do not.