Former President Donald Trump slammed Pennsylvania’s recent move automatically registering residents to vote when seeking or renewing drivers licenses.
The state’s new initiative, which Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced last week, took effect immediately. Residents obtaining or renewing a driver’s and photo license from a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will be taken through the voter registration process unless they intentionally opt out at the time of registration.
Early Monday, Trump called the move a “disaster for the election of Republicans” and suggested it could also hurt his own electability.
“Pennsylvania is at it again!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The Radical Left Governor, Josh Shapiro, has just announced a switch to Automatic Voter Registration, a disaster for the Election of Republicans, including your favorite President, ME!”
“This is a totally Unconstitutional Act, and must be met harshly by Republican Leadership in Washington and Pennsylvania. Likewise, the RNC, and Ronna McDaniel, must spend their time working on this, instead of meaningless Debates where I am up by more than 50 points,” he said.
Trump slams Pennsylvania's automatic voter registration pic.twitter.com/LfOn8ICEw1
— Chris Bertman (@manofbert) September 25, 2023
Trump said focusing on election integrity in swing states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin were more important than other Republican presidential candidates focusing on whether the former President will participate in the upcoming primary debate.
“DeSanctimonious, and the others. Start suing now, & get the right lawyers this time!” Trump wrote. “The Pennsylvania Republican Party must likewise not let this happen. It will be a disaster for our Nation, which is being destroyed by these Lunatics, Marxists, & Fascists, whose only real ability is to CHEAT on Elections. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Last week, Governor Shapiro touted Pennsylvania’s latest automatic voter registration initiative in a press release.
“Pennsylvania is the birthplace of our democracy, and as Governor, I’m committed to ensuring free and fair elections that allow every eligible voter to make their voice heard,” said Shapiro. “Automatic voter registration is a commonsense step to ensure election security and save Pennsylvanians time and tax dollars. Residents of our Commonwealth already provide proof of identity, residency, age, and citizenship at the DMV – all the information required to register to vote — so it makes good sense to streamline that process with voter registration.”
“My Administration will keep taking innovative actions like this one to make government work better and more efficiently for all Pennsylvanians,” he added.
The United States Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act in 1993, creating a new method of registering eligible voters by allowing states to let residents complete related forms while applying for or renewing their driver’s licenses.
Oregon became the first state to implement automatic voter registration in January of 2016. Currently, 22 other states employ the same automatic registration process along with Washington D.C.
Editor’s Note: A previous headline for this article read “Trump Slams Pennsylvania’s Automatic Voter Registration.” The headline has since been changed to more accurately and specifically convey Trump’s perspective.
