This bill mandates the implementation of automatic voter registration for individuals applying for specific licenses and permits in New Jersey. It expands the current automatic voter registration process, which is already in place at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC), to include applications for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, all-around sportsman licenses, beaver trapping permits, wild turkey permits, deer permits, firearms purchaser identification cards, and permits to carry handguns. The bill stipulates that agencies, offices, and local police forces providing these licenses must establish a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State for eligible applicants, while also ensuring that individuals have the option to decline this automatic registration.

Additionally, the bill includes specific legal language that updates existing statutes to reflect these changes. It incorporates provisions for licenses to operate a power vessel into the automatic voter registration process and requires compliance with the established voter registration protocols similar to those at the NJMVC. The bill emphasizes that any agency or office involved must verify the collection of documents proving eligibility, such as age, citizenship, and residence address, and must provide necessary notices to applicants regarding their voter registration status. The act is set to take effect on January 1 following its enactment, allowing for anticipatory administrative actions to facilitate its implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 19:31-6.14, 39:2-3.2, 39:3-10