Colo. voter bill would automatically enroll Medicaid applicants

April 05-- Apr. 5--People applying for Medicaid benefits would automatically be registered to vote, according to new legislation introduced this week by Sen. Stephen Fenberg, D-Boulder, and Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo.

One part of Senate Bill 235 spells out what is already in law -- anyone receiving or renewing a driver's license is automatically registered to vote as an unaffiliated voter. Now, people can decline to be registered while at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

SB 235 changes that to have their county clerk notify the person of their registration and the voter would have to notify the clerk if they wanted to dis-enroll or affiliate with a party.

But the measure goes farther, however, and automatically registers to vote anyone applying for Medicaid health insurance benefits. They also would receive notice of their registration and have to respond if they want to disenroll or affiliate.

There are 1.4 million people statewide receiving Medicaid, nearly 20 percent of the population.

In Pueblo County, more than 40 percent of residents receive some Medicaid benefit, according to state's Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Pueblo County Clerk Gilbert "Bo" Ortiz said his office already enrolls nearly 90 percent of eligible voters, many of them Medicaid recipients.

Esgar said the legislation would streamline the process of getting voters registered through the Department of Motor Vehicles. And people who apply for Medicaid.

"This process would add only eligible voters who do not opt out of the registration," she said.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold's office would review the new voter registrations to guarantee they are eligible.

The bill is one of several voter registration measures being introduced in these final weeks of the session.

Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and a co-sponsor of SB 235, is also introducing a bill to increase registration of disabled people.

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