The loophole in a new California law that could allow 800,000 ILLEGAL immigrants to vote

DMV insists safeguards are in place with new 'motor-voter' law.

In the two years since California passed a new law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, over 800,000 people have applied and been granted licenses to drive. There are also concerns a change in the state's voter registration law will now enable them to vote.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Two years ago, Californian passed a law that allowed illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Since that time, 800,000 people have been granted the right to drive in the Golden State. Now, there are concerns that another change in the law will allow these same people the right to vote, despite being non-citizens.

California is set to make all residents with driver's licenses automatically eligible to vote. Instead of worrying about sending in a voter registration card, anyone with a license will be a voter by default. The law takes effect with the new year.

The DMV insists a safeguard is built into their system to prevent these people from being automatically registered to vote. The licenses cannot be used as identification, according to the DMV. Each license is marked ‽federal restrictions apply."

The law, which has been controversial, has produced many benefits for illegals. Immigrants say they no longer have to worry when they see the police, and that it allows them to drive safely, instead of having to ride a bus. This is useful when taking children to school and running other errands. 

There are also concerns that data sharing between agencies could provide federal officials with a convenient list of illegal immigrants in the state and where they live. If a mass deportation order were given, federal officials could use the data to round up anyone with a license under the state's program. The DMV says it will not share such information with federal authorities.

In a broader sense, the question of how the state should deal with illegal immigrants is once again brought to the fore as the state's "motor-voter" law takes effect. What taxpayer-funded goods and services should illegal immigrants be allowed to access? Only some? All of them? None?

Driver's licenses do seem practical, but detractors point out there is nothing that requires these special license holders to buy insurance, which appears to be a loophole in the state's mandatory insurance law.

How easy or difficult should we make life for a person who does not belong here, but remains anyway, probably working and building a family? How will our policies impact their loved ones, many of who reside here legally? What measures improve public safety?

There are no easy answers. Nobody should enter the country illegally, and no illegal immigrant should have a right to anything, but the reality and the humanity of the situation must be appreciated.

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