U.S. Expected to Sue California to Enforce ‘Motor Voter’ Law

The Justice Department is expected to sue California and possibly three other states Monday to obtain compliance with the federal “motor voter” law that enables people to register to vote when they apply for driver’s licenses or social services, Administration sources said Saturday.

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno and Deval Patrick, assistant attorney general for civil rights, are scheduled to announce the action at a press conference Monday.

In December, California Gov. Pete Wilson sued in federal court to prevent the Justice Department from enforcing the law and ordered state agencies not to implement it. Until now, Reno and other department officials have said only that they would defend the law’s constitutionality.

In addition to California, states facing a federal suit over failure to implement the law include Pennsylvania, Illinois and South Carolina. But an Administration source indicated that one or more of them might avoid immediate legal action by moving toward compliance.

Wilson has contended that enforcing the law would cost California as much as $35.8 million annually, but federal officials cited estimates by state election officials that it could be done for $5 million.

The law allows persons applying for a driver’s license or social services to register to vote at the same time.

Reno and other Administration officials have urged California to comply with the law to extend the vote to people who have consistently failed to register.

Opponents contend the law violates the 10th Amendment to the Constitution by infringing on states’ rights and that it amounts to an “unfunded mandate” by requiring states to take costly actions without providing the funds.