NJ Automatic Voter Registration

Excerpts
NEW JERSEY — Registering to vote just got easier in New Jersey, after Gov. Phil Murphy signed an automatic voter registration bill into law Tuesday afternoon.
The legislation (A2014) requires the Motor Vehicle Commission to automatically register any eligible person to vote when they apply for a permit, license, or non-driver ID card. It gives other state agencies the option to participate in the program as well, although they will not be required.
"Today, New Jersey proudly joins a select group of states – 11 plus the District of Columbia – that have enacted automatic voter registration to expand and protect the voting rights of their citizens,"said Governor Murphy. "This stands in stark contrast to those whose only interest lays in restricting voting rights and suppressing voters' voices. In New Jersey, we recognize our democracy is stronger when more people are given the opportunity to participate and when the residents of our state are empowered to be part of the democratic process."

The law was not without its detractors, with some Republicans saying it would cost too much and overstep the government's boundaries.
"Billion dollar Phil Murphy is now going to spend millions of taxpayer money registering people to vote who have not asked to register," Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21) said. "They also want to give licenses to everyone whether they are here legally or illegally. That means someone who is here illegally will be automatically registered to vote and will have to opt out. This is what happens when you have a tax and spend governor – you look for another reason to spend money. I think it's a mistake."
Up to 600,000 new voters could be added to voter rolls as a result of the law, a study by the Center for American progress found.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/automatic-voter-registration-signed-law-nj?utm_content=newjersey&utm_campaign=blasts&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

1/11/18 article excerpts

But Gov.-elect Phil Murphy, a Democrat who will be sworn into office on Tuesday, said during his campaign that he would work toward providing driver’s licenses and statewide identification for undocumented immigrants. He also said he would work toward extending in-state financial aid and increase access to professional licenses for immigrants living in the country without legal status. 

New Jersey Policy Perspective released a report Thursday that showed that the proposal would benefit about 466,000 undocumented immigrants in the state and said based on the experience of other states who offer the benefit, half of those who would be eligible would receive a license within the first three years of implementation. 

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2018/01/11/drivers-licenses-undocumented-immigrants-new-jersey-goal-advocates/1024014001/