Dear Senator Boxer,
According to news reports, you have decided to close out your long and illustrious career by cleaning up election voter I.D. regulations. Possibly, you might consider a couple of comments with regarding priorities of national concern.
- Now that we, as a nation, have come to our senses and have eliminated this ridiculous and childish embargo of Cuba - it is time to terminate the "Cuban Adjustment Act!" Cubans should NOT have any more priority over U.S. citizenship than any other country - I find this "Act" as both offensive and in violation of our Immigration Laws!
- Voter I.D. legislation is probably needed; but, before you open up or eliminate voting requirements, I would encourage you to look at certain problems California has created in their attempt to provide illegals with a driver's license.
Assemblyman Luis Allejo (D-Salinas) introduced AB 60 which would allow drivers licenses to be issued to persons unable to prove their residence is in accordance to federal law.
To overcome existing law section 12801 (c) (1) of the proposed legislation reads as follows: "An applicant who is unable to provide satisfactory proof that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law may sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury attesting that he or she is both ineligible for a social security account number and unable to submit satisfactory proof that his or her presence in the United States is unauthorized authorized under federal law." It should be noted this affidavit is not a public record, and Section 12801 (2) "The submission of this affidavit shall be accepted by the department (DMV) in lieu of a social security account number."
Because "under penalty of perjury" is lined out as part of this legislation, applicants can offer false statements without penalty - indeed, it encourages a loose treatment of fact. Someone who knows, beyond a reasonable doubt, he is in the country illegally can truthfully state he cannot provide satisfactory proof his presence in the U.S. is authorized under federal law and this affidavit also satisfies the social security requirement.
But there is more: the "Motor-Voter law" allows the DMV to register licensed drivers as voters? The Registrar of Voters for Monterey County has informed me that applicants for the privilege of voting must declare "under penalty of perjury" they are an American citizen. Since any illegal applying for a driver's license has already been allowed a loose treatment of fact, what possible deterrent would prevent an outright untrue statement under oath? They certainly are not going to be deported because California Legislators do not consider those who have violated Federal Immigration laws as having committed a "major" crime.
I am aware the driver's license issued under this legislation is marked differently than regular licenses - and probably the DMV would not register these applicants as a California voter - BUT, that does not lead me to believe that someone else would be as scrupulous . . . and remember, California is encouraging these applicants to utilize a "loose" treatment of fact.