To the editor:

Automatic voter registration (AVR) has now begun in Minnesota. AVR provides an opportunity to register to vote when applying for a driver’s license and is another secure way of registering to vote. You can also register at the Brown County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office, online at the Secretary of State’s web site https://mnvotes.gov/register or at your polling place on Election Day.

Secretary of State Steve Simon, in announcing AVR, said “automatic voter registration strengthens election security and increases voter access by shifting the responsibility of voter registration from eligible voters to election officials. While the system involves multiple rounds of review and verification by state and local government officials, it is simple and seamless for eligible Minnesotan voters.”

For AVR, eligible Minnesotans who are applying for or renewing a state-issued ID who aren’t already registered to vote may now be registered to vote under automatic voter registration (AVR). AVR includes a review process by state and local government officials to verify registrants’ identity, residence, and citizenship to confirm their eligibility to vote.

To register to vote, you must provide proof of U.S. citizenship at the time you apply for a new or renewed driver’s license. This means that non-citizens, including undocumented immigrants who can now obtain a driver’s license, will not be registered to vote through AVR. Any instance of potential ineligible persons registering to vote, or voting, is referred to the county attorney for investigation and potential prosecution.

League of Women Voters – New Ulm: The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization, encouraging information and active participation in government. Learn more about voting and elections at https://mnvotes.org or https://lwvmn.org .

Diane Melzer

New Ulm