The number of registered voters in Oregon could soon increase dramatically.
The Oregon Senate gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would automatically register eligible voters when they get a drivers' license. The Secretary of State's office estimates the new policy will add about 300,000 new voters over the next several years.
Democrats like Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward called the legislation "historic."
"Regardless of party affiliation, every single one of us, as elected officials, should want as many Oregonians as possible engaged as voters,” she said.
People who don't want to be registered voters will have about three weeks to opt out. Republicans said it's already easy to register to vote. They said they're concerned about the security of the data being transferred from the DMV to the Secretary of State.
The measure now heads to Oregon Governor Kate Brown, who says she will sign it.
Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network
