SC 7_ Filed 12/22/1998SC 7_ Filed 12/22/1998

Introduced Version



SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. 7



DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOLUTION


    A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the United States Congress to amend the National Voter Registration Act to give states more flexibility in purging voter registration rolls.


Craycraft


     January 6, 1999 , read first time and referred to Committee on Elections.






Introduced

First Regular Session 111th General Assembly (1999)


SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. 7


    A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the United States Congress to amend the National Voter Registration Act to give states more flexibility in purging voter registration rolls.

    Whereas, The United States Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act in 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg et seq.) to "increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for Federal office";

    Whereas, Another of the stated purposes of the National Voter Registration Act is "to ensure that accurate and current voter registration rolls are maintained";

    Whereas, The National Voter Registration Act does not permit removal of the name of a voter from registration rolls except at the voter's request or for reason of the voter's death, incapacity, criminal conviction, or change of address;

    Whereas, The National Voter Registration Act does not permit removal of the name of a voter from registration rolls for change of address until a detailed procedure of notification of the voter, failure of the voter to respond to the notification or failure to vote, and two federal general elections have occurred;

    Whereas, The experience of Indiana has been that the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address system has been ineffective in identifying voters who have moved;

    Whereas, The experience of Indiana has been that voter registration rolls have grown and have become so large and

inaccurate as to become an administrative burden and to increase the cost of elections;

    Whereas, At some point, the number of registered voters in some election districts may exceed the population of those election districts;

    Whereas, Candidates rely on accurate voter registration rolls to communicate with voters and conduct their campaigns;

    Whereas, Inaccurate voter registration rolls increase the costs of campaigns and hinder communication with voters; and

    Whereas, Indiana's voter registration rolls are neither accurate nor current: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly

of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives concurring:


    SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly urges Congress to amend the National Voter Registration Act to give states more flexibility in purging voter registration rolls.
    SECTION 2. That the Secretary of the Senate send a copy of this resolution to each member of the Indiana congressional delegation.