Letter to Governor Brown and Legislature on Voter Participation in New Motor Voter Program

Report #244 October 26, 2018 The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr. Governor of California Pedro Nava Chairman The Honorable Toni Atkins The Honorable Patricia Bates Sean Varner Vice Chairman President pro Tempore of the Senate Senate Minority Leader David Beier and members of the Senate Iveta Brigis Cynthia Buiza The Honorable Anthony Rendon The Honorable Brian Dahle Anthony Cannella Senator Speaker of the Assembly Assembly Minority Leader Chad Mayes and members of the Assembly Assemblymember Don Perata Bill Quirk Re: Losing 1.4 Million Eligible Voters (so far) a Bad Prescription for Healthy Democracy: Assemblymember Do the Secretary of State and DMV Have the Right Medicine? Richard Roth Senator Cathy Schwamberger Dear Governor and Members of the Legislature: Janna Sidley Jeanne Wolfe While the Legislature has done its part to improve voter registration and participation, the Executive Director (A) Commission has found that in the first quarter of the New Motor Voter Program, over 1.4 million eligible voters were not registered to vote under the program, either because they opted out of registering or their intent to register was unclear. No data is being collected and analyzed to determine why so many eligible voters aren’t signing up. At a cost of $436,000, the Secretary of State (SOS) sends a postcard to some, (about 25 percent of opt outs in July and 38 percent in August), there is no follow up to determine whether this outreach works or is worth the money. Neither does the SOS collect data on the 16 and 17-year olds who decline registration while at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In addition, there have been serious rollout issues with the New Motor Voter Program since its implementation in April 2018. More than 70,000 voter records have been negatively altered and 1,500 people have been improperly registered to vote. In large part, the legitimacy of elections depends upon faith in the electoral process. The topic of election integrity is on everyone’s mind, whether it’s Russian interference or some 400-pound guy in a basement. Government errors or other failures with the New Motor Voter Program may serve to shake, if not seriously undermine, such faith. The findings and recommendations in this letter report are intended to assist the new administration and Legislature in taking needed action to correct the persistent problems afflicting the New Motor Voter Program. Challenges and Opportunities The Commission believes that the incoming administration and Legislature should be aware of the ongoing challenges with the New Motor Voter Program and take prompt action. Sustained commitment and diligence is needed to ensure that no Californian who is eligible to vote is left voiceless and behind in any election due to government error or other failures. Recommendation No. 1. Despite the partial success of the New Motor Voter Program, far too many eligible Californians who conduct transactions at the DMV still opt out of the program, fail to provide voter preference or give clear intent as to whether they want to register to vote. In the first quarter of the program’s implementation, over 1.4 million people were not registered through the program.1 The Secretary of State does not engage in any activities to find out why the program has not been successful for these eligible voters.2 Thus, there is no light shed on who these groups of individuals are or why they fail to register to vote, despite the convenience of the program. Without gathering this type of data, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to improve the New Motor Voter Program. Therefore, measures should be implemented requiring the Secretary of State to engage in activities to find out why Californians who are eligible to vote opt out of the New Motor Voter Program, fail to provide voter preference, or give clear intent as to whether they want to register to vote. In addition, on an annual basis, the Secretary of State should report to the Legislature its findings and, where appropriate, any remedial actions taken or to be taken to the program. Recommendation No. 2. As of August 24, 2018, the number of individuals eligible to vote but who opted out of the New Motor Voter Program or provided unclear information or missing information is over 1.4 million.3 That large of a number is unacceptable. While the Secretary of State follows up with these individuals by sending outreach postcards, the office does not collect, track, or analyze data on how many individuals take action to vote after receiving the postcard.4 Certainly, time, expense, and resources are expended on this outreach. Further, the August 2018 data from the Secretary of State shows that not all individuals who fail to register to vote through the program have been sent outreach postcards. The Commission thus calls for evaluation of the outreach program. Measures should be implemented requiring the Secretary of State to develop policies and procedures to measure and determine the effectiveness and cost efficiency of the office’s New Motor Voter Program outreach efforts. The Secretary of State should also consider and implement other outreach approaches, where appropriate. Recommendation No. 3. The DMV and California Department of Technology (CDT) have had serious problems with ensuring that the New Motor Voter Program works as intended and promised. The spirit and intent of the law will disappear without effective implementation and long-term planning. Moreover, voter confidence in a fair and legitimate electoral process will be undermined, if not shattered. The Secretary of State has Little Hoover Commission | 2 called for an independent third party to audit the DMV and CDT and correctly so. An independent audit is appropriate, because partisan interest, whether perceived or real, should not be an issue in a review of governmental conduct that is so fundamental to democracy. Given their unique expertise in conducting independent program audits of state departments, the California State Auditor is well suited and qualified to perform an independent performance audit of the DMV and CDT relative to the New Motor Voter Program. Therefore, the California State Auditor should be directed to conduct an immediate program audit of the DMV and CDT relative to the New Motor Voter Program with recommendations for corrective action where appropriate. Background The Commission began this study in May 2017 following the historic 2016 election to learn about California’s voter participation landscape and to consider the impact of important legislative changes on voter participation rates. The Commission heard from researchers at the Public Policy Institute of California and the California Civic Engagement Project. Elections officials in three counties – Orange, Sacramento and Santa Cruz –shared predictions for how voting reforms may shape participation in their communities and discussed challenges to implementing recent changes in law. Representatives from critical voting rights organizations described how the new election laws could ease the voter registration process and improve voter turnout; yet, they also warned against potential barriers, particularly for individuals with disabilities and non-native English speakers. Representatives from the California Secretary of State and the Department of Motor Vehicles shared strategies and plans to implement California’s new election laws and address concerns from the stakeholder community. Representatives from Los Angeles County told the Commission about planned election improvements to modernize the voting experience in the county, including efforts by local election officials to modernize the county’s voting system. Representatives from voting rights organizations as well as community organizations, including California Calls and Community Coalition, spoke about the readiness for election-administration improvement in the County of Los Angeles. They described extensive grassroots efforts to engage underrepresented communities and offered suggestions for reaching new and infrequent voters in the county. The president of the California Voter Foundation explained opportunities and potential pitfalls California may encounter in implementing changes to the voting process. A representative from Rock the Vote also shared lessons from decades of work mobilizing young voters and suggested additional opportunities to amplify civic education and awareness as a means to increase voter participation. Commission staff conducted extensive research and interviewed election researchers, civic advocates and members of the public. Little Hoover Commission | 3 Legislative Reforms Aimed at Increasing Voter Participation AB 30 (2009) and Low registration rates and turnout at the polls have historically plagued SB 113 (2014) combined to California. Notably, young voters, ages 18-24, turn out to vote at significantly lower rates than older voters.5 This is particularly troubling allow pre-registration for eligible 16 and 17 years because research shows that people who get involved in the political process at a young age are more likely to become lifelong voters.6 olds who meet certain criteria. Since 1993, the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), also known as the Motor Voter Law, has been credited with helping millions of people to register to vote and update their voter information during a driver license or ID card transaction at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).7 In January 2016, AB 1461 (Gonzalez), California’s New Motor Voter Program, was enacted into law.8 The law, designed to increase further the state’s voter rolls by simplifying the voter registration process, requires DMV to electronically transmit to the California Secretary of State information about DMV customers who are eligible to vote. The California Secretary of State then adds those who are eligible to the voter rolls, unless they opt out of registration. California became only the second state in the nation to adopt an automatic voter registration system. Oregon had enacted a similar law earlier in 2015.9 Although AB 1461 took effect in January 2016, DMV was given one year to commence implementation following the certification of the statewide voter registration database, VoteCal. In September 2016, the California Secretary of State certified VoteCal.10 Lawmakers also approved a funding request by DMV related to implementation.11 The DMV partnered with the Department of Technology (CDT) to develop applications needed to implement AB 1461.12 Regulations developed by the California Secretary of State became operative in October 2017, and the DMV launched the New Motor Voter Program in April 2018.13 Since its launch, CDT has continued to work with the DMV to modify the New Motor Voter Program applications, streamline and improve operations, and train DMV staff to provide ongoing maintenance and support for the application.14 The New Motor Voter Program falls short of requiring automatic voter registration, as the Oregon law does. In California, no one who is eligible to vote will be registered or pre-registered to vote without their knowledge, since there is an “opt-out” choice. DMV representatives explained the process this way: “Rather than asking DMV customers if they would like to register to vote, eligible applicants will be automatically registered to vote unless they affirmatively decline and opt out of registration, or respond that they are ineligible to register to vote.”15 In Oregon, there are no questions about voter registration at the point of service. Rather, the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division forwards relevant customer information to the Oregon Secretary of State. Those deemed eligible to vote receive a card in the mail that informs them of their registered status and allows them to pick a political party or to opt out of registration.16 In addition to the New Motor Voter Program, SB 450 (Allen), known as the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA), is aimed at improving voter participation. On or after January 1, 2018, the VCA authorizes 14 counties to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election, if certain conditions are met. Beginning January 1, 2020, any county may follow the VCA model, except the County of Los Angeles which may pilot a slightly modified model without all-mailed ballots. In contrast to traditional polling places, which operate only on Election Day, the VCA requires vote centers to remain open seven days a week and provide services not provided by polling places, such as same day voter registration, print on-demand ballots for every Little Hoover Commission | 4 jurisdiction in the county, ballots in various languages and accessible voting machines for voters with disabilities.17 Just 5 of the 14 counties – Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento and San Mateo – opted to change their voting processes under the VCA. Counties that opted out of participating in the new voting model continue using polling places. New Motor Voter Program Voter Registration Numbers Increase Prior to the implementation of the New Motor Voter Program, DMV customers could, if they chose, register to vote, re-register to vote or update their residence address. Between April through August 2017, roughly 820,146 eligible DMV customers decided to take advantage of this opportunity.18 In only two and a half months, the New Motor Voter Program, which launched on April 23, 2018, came close to meeting that 2017 voter registration number.19 On July 25, 2018, Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, announced that a total of 792,851 voter registration transactions were completed through the DMV. Those transactions included new voter registrations, re-registrations and updated residence addresses.20 As of August 24, 2018, that 700,000 plus number jumped to 1,391,236.21 The number of pre-registrations for 16 and 17 year olds also increased, although not entirely due to the New Motor Voter Program. The data from the Secretary of State shows that as of September 20, 2018, 209,577 16 and 17 year olds had pre-registered to vote by way of the California online voter registration website or at the DMV.22 Voter Registration Increases Do Not, Unfortunately, Show an Accurate Picture While the voter registration increases appear promising, the New Motor Voter Program is not a success story, at least not yet, because the number of DMV customers eligible to vote but who opt out of registering is too high. The data from the Secretary of State as of August 24, 2018, shows that in the first quarter of the program’s roll out 1,148,700 eligible DMV customers opted out of registering to vote. (Exhibit A.) That’s not the only negative high number. The data from the Secretary of State also shows that in the first quarter of the program’s rollout 272,089 DMV customers eligible to vote did not clearly indicate if they intended to register or update their registration. Consequently, those individuals were not registered through the program. (Exhibit B.) When the opt-out and unclear intent registration numbers are combined, the number of eligible voters who were not registered to vote through the New Motor Voter Program rises to 1,420,789. That is a sizeable number of missed registrations.23 The Secretary of State does take follow up action, however, by sending outreach postcards to eligible voters who do not effectively utilize the New Motor Voter Program to register to vote or who opt out of registering. (Appendix B) Based on the August 24, 2018, data for the months of July and August 2018, the Secretary of State has not sent postcards to all individuals who opted out of registering. In July, 412,588 individuals opted out and, as of August 24, only 106,423 outreach postcards have been sent to those individuals. In August, 214,969 individuals opted out and, as of August 24, only 82,375 postcards have been sent to those individuals.24 Little Hoover Commission | 5 To date, the Secretary of State has spent more than $436,000 on printing and mailing the outreach postcards.25 Whether the Secretary of State’s outreach efforts are effective is unknown. The Secretary of State does not collect data on how many individuals take action to register to vote after receiving an outreach postcard. The office also does not currently engage in any activities to learn why individuals fail to indicate clearly their voter preference, decline to update their voter registration or opt out of registering to vote. In addition, the Secretary of State does not collect any data on the number of 16- and 17-year olds who decline pre-registration while at the DMV.26 Without collecting and evaluating this type of data, it is unlikely that effective and meaningful improvements can be made to the New Motor Voter Program. The failure to collect and analyze data concerning non-participation may pale in comparison to errors and mistakes that have been made in implementing the New Motor Voter Program. A month after the launch of the New Motor Voter Program, the Secretary of State’s Office reported that 77,000 voter records were affected by software errors. Two voter registration forms were created for one eligible voter.27 In September 2018, additional DMV errors were reported that affected approximately 23,000 registrations. The errors affected political party affiliation, vote-by-mail, and opt-out preferences of eligible voters.28 In October 2018, the DMV reported that approximately 1,500 people were improperly registered—some who may not be eligible voters. The Secretary of State has stated that all 1,500 have been removed from the voter rolls29 and directed the DMV to temporarily stop transferring voter data. In the meantime, the Department of Finance is overseeing an extra review process to verify the accuracy of voter registration information collected by the DMV before it is sent to county election offices and the Secretary of State.30 Pursuant to Governor Brown’s order, the Department of Finance is conducting a performance audit of DMV, which will evaluate field office operations, the customer experience, computer problems and the DMV’s governance structure. Of relevance to this letter report, the audit will also examine an estimated 23,000 errors at DMV offices when customers either were unknowingly registered to vote or had mistakes made in their registration status.31 The audit will cost about $800,000, $700,000 of which is expected to be reimbursed to the department by the DMV.32 The audit is also expected to result in a report with recommendations that will be released to the public in March 2019.33 This audit, however, has not satisfied Secretary Padilla. On October 8, 2018, he wrote a letter to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Department of Technology calling for them to hire immediately an independent third party to audit certain specified issues related to the implementation of the New Motor Voter Program.34 He also demanded to see a copy of the final report and recommendations. Conclusion Eligible voters in California should be heard and counted. While the New Motor Voter Program has improved voter registration rates, that is not the complete or accurate picture. Far too many eligible voters are being lost. In addition, the nagging and persistent problems with the New Motor Voter Program requires immediate action to correct; otherwise, the rich diversity of California’s population will be limited in voice and fairness, and the legitimacy of elections called into question. The New Motor Voter Program must be scrutinized and evaluated under an objective watchful eye. This letter report is Little Hoover Commission | 6 intended to assist the next administration and the Legislature in taking affirmative action to correct the troubling problems plaguing the New Motor Voter Program. Respectfully submitted, Pedro Nava Chairman CC: Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State Jean Shiomoto, Director, California Department of Motor Vehicles Little Hoover Commission | 7 Exhibit A: Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) New Motor Voter Transactions Voter Registration and Opt Out Transactions, April - August 2018 Total Transactions Voter Registration Opt Out 1,391,236 55% 1,148,700 45% 234,040 412,588 287,103 214,969 418,926 342,694 323,943 305,673 April-May June July August *Because the New Motor Voter Program was launched in April and May 2018, the registration totals for these months have been combined. Source: California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. Little Hoover Commission | 8 Exhibit B: Secretary of State New Motor Voter Program Outreach Postcards Outreach Postcards Mailed, April - August 2018 800,000 700,000 600,000 Total outreach postcards = 1,081,688 500,000 400,000 709,941 300,000 200,000 272,089 100,000 99,658 0 Voter Preference Registration Opportunity Opt Out The Secretary of State distinguishes the types of postcards as follows: Voter Preference Postcard: Postcard mailed to DMV customers who did not select a political party, ballot material language, or vote-by-mail preference. Individuals receiving this postcard were registered to vote or had their voter registration updated. Registration Opportunity Postcard: Postcards mailed to DMV customers who renewed or applied for a DL/ID card or changed their address but did not clearly indicate if they wanted to register or update their registration. Individuals receiving this postcard were not registered. Opt Out Postcard: Postcards mailed to DMV customers who were eligible to register, but opted out of voter registration. Individuals receiving this postcard were not registered, or if they were previously registered, their registration was not updated. Source: California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. Little Hoover Commission | 9 Appendix A: Public Hearing Witnesses The lists below reflect the titles and positions of witnesses at the time of the hearings. Public Hearing on Voter Participation May 25, 2017 Sacramento, California Bill Davidson, Chief Deputy Director, Department Ronda Paschal, Deputy Secretary, Legislation, of Motor Vehicles California State Transportation Agency Neal Kelley, Registrar of Voters, Orange County Gail Pellerin, County Clerk, Santa Cruz County Deanna Kitamura, Voting Rights Project Director, Mindy Romero, Director, California Civic Asian Americans Advancing Justice Engagement Project, UC Davis Center for Regional Change Jill LaVine, Registrar of Voters, Sacramento County Dora Rose, Senior Director of Civic Engagement, League of Women Voters of California Eric McGhee, Research Fellow, Public Policy James Schwab, Chief of Legislative Affairs, Office of Institute of California the California Secretary of State Ofelia Medina, Director of State Civic Engagement Lori Shellenberger, Consultant, ACLU of California Policy, NALEO Educational Fund Fred Nisen, Supervising Attorney for Voting Rights, Disability Rights California Public Hearing on Voter Participation September 28, 2017 Los Angeles, California Kim Alexander, President & Founder, California Rosemarie Molina, Civic Engagement Coordinator, Voter Foundation Community Coalition Kathay Feng, Executive Director, California Paul Spencer, Staff Attorney for Voting Rights, Common Cause Disability Rights California Rosalind Gold, Senior Director of Policy, Research Gabriel Taylor, Voting Rights Advocate, Disability and Advocacy, NALEO Educational Fund Rights California Deanna Kitamura, Voting Rights Project Director, Jen Tolentino, Director of Policy & Civic Tech, Rock Asian Americans Advancing Justice the Vote Dean Logan, Registrar of Voters, Los Angeles James Woodson, Organizing Coordinator, County California Calls Little Hoover Commission | 10 Appendix B: New Motor Voter Outreach Postcards Voter Preference Postcard Little Hoover Commission | 11 Registration Opportunity Postcard Little Hoover Commission | 12 Opt Out Postcard Source: Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State. May 7, 2018. Memorandum #18109 to All County Clerks/Registrars of Voters regarding Vote Cal Guidance Documents. Accessed October 15, 2018, at https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ccrov/pdf/2018/may/18109cik.pdf. Little Hoover Commission | 13 Notes 1 California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. 2 Izchel Montelongo, Legislative and Constituent Affairs, California Secretary of State. September 11, 2018. Personal communication with Commission staff. 3 California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. 4 Izchel Montelongo, Legislative and Constituent Affairs, California Secretary of State. September 11, 2018. Personal communication with Commission staff. 5 The California Civic Engagement Project. October 2014. Policy Brief Issue 8. California’s 2014 Youth Voter Turnout: Decline and Future Opportunities. Accessed August 29, 2018, at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57b8c7ce15d5dbf599fb46ab/t/57fffcb8b8a79bec49c6c6f0/147639416914 3/UCDavisYouthVoteBrief8.pdf. 6 AB 30 (Price). Chapter 364, Statutes of 2009. September 8, 2009. Assembly Floor Analysis. Also, SB 113 (Jackson). Chapter 619, Statutes of 2014. August 19, 2014. Assembly Floor Analysis. 7 The United States Department of Justice. Title 42, Chapter 20, National Voter Registration. Accessed August 9, 2018, at https://www.justice.gov/crt/title-42-public-health-and-welfare-chapter-20-elective-franchise-subchapter- i-h-national-voter. Also, California Secretary of State. National Voter Registration Act Compliance at Department of Motor Vehicles Offices. Accessed August 9, 2018, at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter- registration/nvra/voter-registration-agencies/dmv/. 8 AB 1461 (Gonzalez), Chapter 729, Statutes of 2015. 9 Jessica Calefati. October 10, 2015. Gov. Jerry Brown signs ‘motor voter’ law, automating voter registration through the DMV. The Mercury News. Accessed August 29, 2018, at https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/10/10/gov-jerry-brown-signs-motor-voter-law-automating-voter- registration-through-the-dmv/. 10 California Secretary of State. September 26, 2016. Secretary of State Padilla Certifies VoteCal Statewide Voter Registration Database. Accessed August 29, 2018, at http://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and- advisories/2016-news-releases-and-advisories/secretary-state-padilla-certifies-votecal-statewide-voter- registration-database/. 11 Bill Davidson, Chief Deputy Director, Department of Motor Vehicles and Ronda Paschal, Deputy Secretary of Legislation, California Transportation Agency. May 25, 2017. Written testimony to the Commission. 12 Stephanie Dougherty, Deputy Secretary, Transportation Safety and Enforcement, California State Transportation Agency. October 17, 2018. Personal communication with Commission staff. 13 California Code of Regulations. Title 2, Division 7, Chapter 1, Article 4.5 California New Motor Voter Program. Also, California Secretary of State. July 25, 2018. Nearly 800K Voter Registration Transactions Completed Since April Launch of California Motor Voter. Accessed August 29, 2018, at http://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news- releases-and-advisories/2018-news-releases-and-advisories/nearly-800k-voter-registration-transactions- completed-april-launch-california-motor-voter/. 14 Stephanie Dougherty, Deputy Secretary, Transportation Safety and Enforcement, California State Transportation Agency. October 17, 2018. Personal communication with Commission staff. 15 Bill Davidson, Chief Deputy Director, Department of Motor Vehicles. May 25, 2017. Testimony to the Commission. 16 Oregon Secretary of State, Elections Division. September 2017. Oregon Motor Voter Registration Manual. Accessed August 29, 2018, at https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/documents/oregon-motor-voter-registration-manual- final.pdf. 17 SB 450 (Chapter 832, Statutes of 2016). 18 California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 7. DMV Voter Registration: Yearly and Monthly Totals 1995 to March 2018. Accessed September 28, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. Little Hoover Commission | 14 19 California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. 20 California Secretary of State. July 25, 2018. Nearly 800K Voter Registration Transactions Completed Since April Launch of California Motor Voter. Accessed August 29, 2018, at http://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news- releases-and-advisories/2018-news-releases-and-advisories/nearly-800k-voter-registration-transactions- completed-april-launch-california-motor-voter/. 21 California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. 22 California Secretary of State. Total Pre-Registration by Political Party as of 9/20/18. Accessed October 1, 2018, at http://files.constantcontact.com/c1d64240601/6f7f450a-8fd1-427f-b937-9495f9fd0dfe.pdf. 23 California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. 24 California Secretary of State. NVRA Reports. 3. DMV New Motor Voter Registration Transactions Monthly and Yearly Totals by Category, April 2018 to Present. Accessed October 12, 2018, at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/nvra/reports/. 25 Tiffany Mok, Chief of Legislative Affairs, California Secretary of State. October 12, 2018. Personal communication with Commission staff. 26 Izchel Montelongo, Legislative and Constituent Affairs, California Secretary of State. September 11, 2018. Personal communication with Commission staff. 27 John Myers. May 24, 2018. “One voter, two registration forms: Errors reported in rollout of California’s ‘motor voter’ system.” The Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-motor-voter-registrations- errors-20180524-story.html. Accessed September 28, 2018. 28 John Myers. September 20, 2018. “California’s DMV finds another 3,000 unintended voter registrations.” The Los Angeles Times. Accessed September 28, 2018, at http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-dmv-additional-voter- registration-errors-20180920-story.html. 29 Bryan Anderson. October 10, 2018. “Motor Voter is on the ropes. California considers freeze of DMV registrations.” The Mercury News. Accessed October 11, 2018, at https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/10/10/motor-voter-is-on-the-ropes-california-considers-freeze-of-dmv- registrations/. 30 Bryan Anderson. October 22, 2018. “Motor Voter lives on at DMV, but California adds extra review to prevent registration errors.” The Sacramento Bee. Accessed October 23, 2018 at https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics- government/capitol-alert/article220334800.html. 31 Patrick McCreevy. September 21, 2018. “Gov. Jerry Brown orders audit of DMV over hours-long wait times.” The Los Angeles Times. Accessed October 11, 2018, at http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governor-orders- dmv-audit-20180921-story.html. 32 Bryan Anderson. September 21, 2018. “California’s DMV to undergo audit after all.” The Sacramento Bee, Capitol Alert. Accessed October 11, 2018, at https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol- alert/article218804370.html. 33 Patrick McCreevy. September 21, 2018. “Gov. Jerry Brown orders audit of DMV over hours-long wait times.” The Los Angeles Times. Accessed October 11, 2018, at http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governor-orders- dmv-audit-20180921-story.html. 34 California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. October 8, 2018. Letter to Jean Shiomoto, Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and Amy Tong, Director and State Chief Information Officer of the California Department of Technology. On file. Little Hoover Commission | 15