CHRIS HAYES (HOST): Today the state of Vermont joined the ranks of just three other states in the entire country to make it easier, much easier, to register to vote. The policy is so simple, it makes you wonder why the other 46 states aren't doing it too. Governor Peter Shumlin signed a law that automatically registered eligible voters to vote when they apply for a driver's license or state I.D., unless they opt out. Apply for an I.D., you're registered to vote. As Ron Popeil would say, you set it and forget it. The new law will go into effect on July 1, 2017. As automatic voter registration has now been passed in four states, the other three are Oregon, California and West Virginia. Now, just a little over a year ago no states had automatic voter registration, now there are four and more than 20 states have legislation or a ballot initiative pending for automatic voter registration. There is, unfortunately, a strong countervailing force at work and that is the number of states that require some form of voter I.D., particularly states with strict photo I.D. requirements. 17 states, states either require or request a photo I.D., in all more than 30 states require or request some kind of I.D. to vote. Studies show that such laws affect voters of color disproportionately, now, which conservative politicians sometimes admit.
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SAM SEDER: A total no-brainer for Democrats. I mean, the interesting thing about West Virginia is they did that in-hand with the sort of a partial voter I.D. law as well. And so that's sort of the way that they came together. But you know, the thing that undergirds -- I think -- this from the right, at least based upon what I have heard, some complaints, is this notion that this is opening the door for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to come in and vote, because this is the secret back door. They go in and register, they get their driver's license, all they have to do is just check off a box that says that they're American citizens, and then they register. As if then all of these people are going to risk the idea that they could get deported so that they could vote presumably for the local comptroller or something. I mean, this is absurd. But that is what -- that's interesting. That is what the counter argument is.
