Those getting registered through DMV now. You still need to later choose Democratic Party...
... for your party affiliation. By default you are registered as a NAV status voter if you don't respond to a postcard that is sent to you later with the proper box checked, or if you don't update it online then.
This is important if you want to vote in the Democratic Party primaries this year. As you won't be able to do so as an NAV voter. And tell people that it isn't enough to vote as a member of the new Independent Party that will have a primary ballot this coming election. You need to be registered as a Democrat to vote for one of the candidates for president in the Democratic Primary.
Read more here:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/19/faq-oregons-new-motor-voter-law-work/25048243/
What if I don't want to register to vote?
You don't have to. The state will send you a postcard telling you that you will be registered unless you check the box saying that you don't want to be. (You can also select a political party at this time.)
If you don't send in the card with the box checked, you will be registered. You have three weeks to mail it back.
...
What if I want to register or change my mind about my party, and I don't want to wait for the next time I renew my license?
You can go online to register or change your information at any time You may also make any necessary changes at your local county clerk's office. Voter registration is not dependent on having a driver's license or government identification card.
I suspect many young people getting driver's licenses the first time will think that all they need to do is to get their driver's license to be registered to vote in the primaries in May next year. They need to be reminded that this is a two step process to vote in the primaries, and the need to follow up and set their affiliation as a Democrat to be able to vote then.
Given that this is a new system that hasn't had the kinks out of the system yet, we need to help new voters do the right thing I think to keep it from being a big problem that I'm guessing later might produce some changes that will hopefully allow people at the DMV have a box/line to fill out on a form they fill out at the DMV to indicate which party they want to be registered with. We might want to push for that later, but for now, just make sure that new voters are aware of the rules.
= new reply since forum marked as read
