Governor to Defy Federal ‘Motor-Voter’ Law : Elections: Wilson insists the state cannot afford to implement the rules on registration without funding.

Gov. Pete Wilson has ordered his Administration to defy the federal government and refuse to implement the so-called motor-voter registration law unless Congress forwards the money to pay for the program.

The new law, intended to boost citizen participation in elections, requires the state by Jan. 1 to begin providing voter registration material to driver’s license applicants and at a host of state and local government offices.

Wilson, who opposed the law as an unwelcome intrusion into state affairs, signed an executive order Aug. 12 that allows state offices to prepare for the expanded voter registration program but implement it only “to the extent federal funding is made available for such purposes.”

The order, obtained by The Times on Thursday, designates the Department of Motor Vehicles, county welfare departments, the state Department of Rehabilitation, the Franchise Tax Board and the State Board of Equalization as agencies that will participate in the program if funding is forthcoming.

Wilson’s Finance Department estimates that it will cost the state $35.8 million annually to implement the law.

The Republican governor said in his executive order that the law “compels states and local governments to enact a federal program by diverting resources from existing programs and services already facing funding shortages.”

The order also complained that federal and state laws do not require adequate verification of the citizenship status of those seeking to register to vote. Wilson, according to Administration sources, believes that expanded registration efforts will increase the level of voter fraud.

But Acting Secretary of State Tony Miller, a Democrat, said the new system will cut down on abuse. He said he has been trying to implement the law, but has been stymied by Wilson.

“This is actually designed to help maintain the integrity of the election process,” Miller said. “Most registration now occurs through bounty hunters who are paid based on the number of people they register. Sometimes greed overcomes good conscience and they register people without the niceties of asking them whether or not they are a citizen.

“Motor-voter will move registration off the streets and into government offices where we will be relying on trained civil servants rather than mercenaries.”

Miller said Wilson is wrong to try to defy the federal government. “If the governor’s departments refuse to do so, then a federal court will compel him to comply,” he said.

An Administration source said Wilson believes that the state will be well-positioned to defend such a lawsuit if it does everything necessary to plan for the program but then balks and demands federal funding.

“In the event of a lawsuit we feel that the steps we’ve taken will best prepare the state for any litigation,” the source said.