New Voter Registration Agency to Help Close Gaps in Communities of Color

By Michelle Romero

In a move that leads the nation in reducing barriers and expanding opportunities for voter registration, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen is designating the state’s new Health Benefit Exchange, Covered California, as a voter registration agency under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). In doing so, Covered California will reach millions of Californians who might not otherwise be given the opportunity to register to vote, most of whom are people of color.

“The timing could not be more ideal,” said Lori Shellenberger, director of the Voting Rights Project of the ACLU of California. “Covered California is already leading the country in implementation of theAffordable Care Act. Secretary Bowen’s decision to include the state’s Health Benefit Exchange as a voter registration agency is one of the most significant voter registration policy decisions in the state’s history and will bring millions of Californians into the democratic process in our state. We are hopeful that many other states will follow her innovative lead.”

According to simulations of the California insurance market, more than 2 million uninsured Californians who are newly eligible for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act will enroll. About half of them will be covered through Medi-Cal, while 1.2 million will be reached through Covered California.

The Secretary’s voter registration agency designation comes at a time when Covered California is developing its online, phone and in-person application process for an anticipated October 1^st launch date. By incorporating voter registration services into all of its application processes, Covered California will lead the nation by offering voter registration services to millions of consumers from the outset.

About 74 percent of currently uninsured Californians are people of color. Asians and Latinos also have low voter registration rates. Effective integration of voter registration through Covered California can play a key role in helping to close the gaps in communities of color.

Because of the Secretary of State’s leadership in California, we could see as many as 68 millionpeople enfranchised across the country if other states follow suit and designate their Health Benefit Exchanges as voter registration agencies.

The Greenlining Institute’s Claiming Our Democracy Program will continue to work with theACLU of California and other partners to ensure this new designation is acted upon in a way that maximizes opportunities for all.

via Greenlining.org