1. Automatic Voter Registration
iGO Educational Conference
July, 2018 – Reno, Nevada
Christine Walker, Jackson County (OR) Clerk
Melissa Polk, CO Secretary of State Elections Division
All Material © 2018 International Association of Government Officials. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Use Prohibited.

2. AVR – It’s about efficiency
About 16% of the population moves every year.
Dramatically reduces provisional ballots. 
Utah: 2016-before AVR: 20% after AVR: 3%
People already think it’s happening.
Supported by the NVRA.
For VBM jurisdictions, increased printing & postage costs more than offset in savings from reduced undeliverable ballots (up to $4 per ballot)

3. How AVR works in OR
Old system: separate step needed to register at the DMV. Opt in. New system: Voter registration automatic. Opt out.
Registration process begins when a qualified individual applies for a drivers license, permit or I.D. card (U.S. Citizen; Oregon resident, at least 16.
Secure electronic transfer of data and signature
Individual receives Oregon Motor Voter Card in mail:
Opt-out
Select a political party, or
Ignore (21 days to opt-out or will be automatically non-affiliated)
Automatic update of active-inactive voter residence or mailing address
Phase I- Started January 2016, took effect for voters who interacted with DMV on or after that date
Phase II- Started June 2016, look back to qualified but unregistered individuals who visited the DMV in 2014 or 2015 (roughly 145,000)

4. Results in Oregon

5. Results in Oregon

6. How AVR works in CO Electronic transfer of data and signature
Opt-out language during in-person transaction and during online renewal or change of address
Automatic update of name and address for existing voters (with follow up correspondence)
New legislation that requires exchange of voter registration information with driver’s license office to further streamline the process

7. Registration data

8. What AVR screens look like

9. What AVR screens look like

10. Signature pad
1. Answer confirmation Changed heading to a question. Right aligned all answers.
2. Legal notices Simplified text to make it easier to read.
3. Affirmation Kept statutory text, but broke statements into bullets.
4. Signature Added prompt that this is an official signature and to sign within the box
This is your official signature for voting. Sign within the lines.

11. Results
Participation of individuals registered through new Oregon Motor during Primary Election May 2016, 18.9% (statewide 53.99% )
Oregon voter registration increase 18.46% statewide compared to 2015 statistics (November 2016)

12. ImplementationTips & Tricks

13. Questions & Discussion
Chris Walker – Jackson County (OR) Clerk
Melissa Polk – Colorado Secretary of State office