Tag: Driver’s License

Tennessee Bill Would Create Online Portal for Election Workers to Verify Voters Are Citizens with Right to Vote

Tom Pappert
Poll Workers

New legislation introduced Tuesday in Tennessee would require the Tennessee Coordinator of Elections, Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS), and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to create new portals that will allow election officials to determine if voter applicants are U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote.

House Bill 69 by Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) requires the Coordinator of Elections and TDOS to “create a secure, electronic portal through which each county administrator of elections may access information to verify, prior to processing an applicant’s application to register to vote, whether the applicant is a non-United States citizen based on records on file.”

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Florida’s DeSantis Signs Three Bills Designed to Combat Illegal Immigration

The Center Square

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed three bills into law on Friday to bolster Florida’s efforts to prevent illegal immigration.

“We’re here today, one, to build off a record of success with respect to combating illegal immigration…if you go back six or seven years in the state of Florida, we were not leading against illegal immigration at all, in fact, we were one of the weaker states,” DeSantis said.

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PennDOT Supports Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

The Center Square
Mike Carroll

The Shapiro administration said Monday it supports giving non-citizens driver’s licenses, following a trend across the Mid-Atlantic that posits the policy change as a safety measure.

“There are reports of over a dozen states that already allow non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, to obtain driver’s licenses,” Rep. Mike Cabell, R-Dallas, said. “Meanwhile, federal DHS policy stipulates that states could offer those with TPS (Temporary Protected Status) a Real ID.”

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Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Lifts Driver’s License Suspensions for 150,000

The Center Square

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that her department has lifted suspensions on the driver’s licenses of more than 150,000 Michiganders after implementing new laws last month.

The department lifted the suspensions of 12,000 Michiganders in October. Michiganders who are now eligible for a driver’s license may still need to pay a reinstatement fee or renew or reapply for a license, depending on how long the license was suspended.

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Secretary of State Benson Calls on Lawmakers to Revamp SOS Services, Give Unspecified Amount of Money

The Center Square
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Thursday asked for an unspecified amount of money to completely revamp the Michigan Department of State (MDOS).

The money would be used to provide “pop-up” offices, provide virtual interactions instead of in-person, and pass other laws that would result in less interaction with the department.

“Michiganders can now complete most of their transactions online, by mail or at one of our new self-service stations located at their local grocery store,” Benson said. “And the remaining in-person transactions are carried out by appointment, ensuring the vast majority of customers have little to no wait time.”

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Whitmer Extends Driver’s License, Vehicle Registration Expiration for Second Time

Jordyn Pair

  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer temporarily extended the expiration of various identification and vehicle-related documentation during the pandemic for the second time, the governor announced late last week. The order extends the expiration of state identification cards, driver’s licenses, operator endorsements and vehicle registration to July 31. The documentation must be originally set to expire between February 1 and July 30 to fall under the extension. “Nobody should have to stress about renewing their drivers license or state ID card, or worry about their auto insurance coverage during a global pandemic,” Whitmer said in a statement. “By extending this executive order, we’re lifting that burden off Michiganders’ shoulders so they can focus on staying home and staying safe.”  The order protects Michigan residents from penalties for driving on expired licenses or permits, Whitmer’s office said. The protections do not extend to drivers with suspended or revoked licenses or those whose diagnoses have changed or expanded since their last medical certificate was issued. The order also requires that drivers complete driver’s license or vehicle registration renewals online “to their best of their ability.” Friday’s order is a continuation of a previous order in mid-April that also extended the expiration of licenses and registrations. That order was originally set to end…

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LGBT Group, ACLU Applaud North Carolina DMV Update to ‘Gender Designation Change Form’

A.P. Dillon

The ACLU of North Carolina and the LGBT rights group, Equality NC, are applauding changes made to a form used to change one’s gender assignment on a North Carolina driver’s license. The revised form now allows for a long list of professionals to complete the form regarding their opinion on the “applicant’s gender identity.” “We applaud this step the DMV has taken to modernize the process to update gender markers on driver’s licenses,” said Sarah Gillooly, Director of Political Strategy & Advocacy for the ACLU of North Carolina in a press release. “People of all genders shouldn’t have to face invasive questioning and surgical requirements just to have their government identification reflect their true identity. Trans men are men and trans women are women — period,” said Equality NC Executive Director Kendra R. Johnson in the ACLU press release. There is no state or federal law mandating such a change process. Patrice Bethea, a Public Communications officer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation said in an email to Battleground State News that the change was made because the “DMV periodically reviews policies and procedures to make sure they are consistent with federal law.” “North Carolina’s policy is similar to…

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