JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- If you can drive, you can vote. That's the gist of a new bill Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens wants to pass. His law would require Florida to automatically make eligible drivers, registered voters.
"Since we are all citizens of the United States. I think it would be a great idea," said Jodi Myer.
"It'll be a lot easier," said Steve Bowles.
Right now drivers are asked by the state if they want to register. But if the law changes, drivers would have to opt out.
"It's very expensive to maintain them on the rolls. We have to send them sample ballots, and voter registration cards, and those kind of things," said Jerry Holland.
Holland is the Duval County Supervisor of Elections. He tells Action News there are about 100,000 drivers in Jacksonville who are not registered to vote.
And he says sending all of them sample ballots and other election information would cost taxpayers an extra $80,000 every election.
"If they want to participate, they're entitled to that. But if their intent is that I am registered, but I am never going to vote, then you are probably spending money that you don't need to as taxpayers," said Holland.
But Holland says there is a bright side to this proposal. The bill would help his office keep up with the 50,000 voters who move every year and have to change their address on their driver’s license.
For local voters, it may just be one more thing they don’t have to think about. "You got to have your say. So if they don't vote, they can't get heard," said Bowles.
The Florida Senate will take up the proposed bill sometime in the 2013 legislative session.
