[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     REPEAL THE ``MOTOR VOTER'' BILL

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                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, on May 10, 1993, President Clinton signed 
into law a $200 million unfunded Federal mandate called ``The National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993.'' I am today introducing a bill to 
repeal it.
  This law, commonly referred to as the ``motor voter'' bill, tramples 
on States rights by requiring them to implement a law that allows 
people to register to vote by mail, or when they apply for a driver's 
license, or welfare. Proponents of the measure argued that this was the 
answer to voter apathy. They reasoned that by making voter registration 
easier, voter turnout would increase. However, there is little, if any, 
evidence to validate this contention. In fact, over the past three 
decades, voter registration requirements have grown easier and easier, 
yet voter turnout has actually decreased over the same time period.
  Moreover, by easing registration requirements, and not providing the 
States with the funds necessary to keep their registration lists up-to-
date and clean, the motor voter bill will most likely increase election 
fraud.
  Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Congress should not be legislating in this 
area. The States know best how to develop voter registration programs 
in their own jurisdictions with the least cost and chance of fraud and 
abuse. It is senseless to undermine their voter registration programs 
by requiring them to comply with a nationalized costly mandate.
  Our new congressional leaders have pledged to make it tougher for the 
Federal Government to place unfunded Federal mandates on the States. 
The bill I am proposing today is in step with the pledge, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.


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