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Madison Common Council passes resolution supporting OLR

FAQ Online Registration

Send this to your state Senator or Representative

Find your Reps here

LRB on History of DL requirements

Letter to Editor August 2009

 Letter to editor March 2009

Things you can do online:

Register for Selective Service

Check your voter registration

Change your DL address

Apply for Social Security

For information, contact Paul Malischke malischke@yahoo.com

   Fair Elections Wis   Box 1122, Madison 53703


LRB 2824/3 is circulating among Wisconsin legislators until March 12 for co-sponsors

Section-by-section analysis

Online Voter Registration Would Help Clerks, Help Voters, and Save $$

Wisconsin should improve the voter registration system by offering online real-time voter registration.  The direct financial payback will be immediate for municipalities, as it will save the clerk’s time by avoiding manual entry of data from a huge stack of paper forms.

See the 8-minute You Tube video - Online Voter Registration Wisconsin September 2009

Follow the successful model of other states

Arizona and Washington have successfully instituted online voter registration (OLR) by partially integrating it with the drivers license system.  Arizona’s system has been in place since 2002, and in 2008, 60% of those who registered used the online systemWashington’s system has been in effect since January 2008, and is highly acclaimed by their Secretary of State (see FAQ and testimony and attachments to congressional committee).  Kansas and Oregon also have working systems.  See the table below for other states that have passed legislation and expect to have systems in 2010.  To ensure an accurate and secure system, there are these limitations:

HAVA checks

In 2008, Wisconsin had a well-publicized battle on how to handle the “HAVA checks”, the comparison of voter registrations to the driver’s license database.  In contrast, the states that have online registration handle this automatically as part of the process.  There is no extra effort needed on either the part of the voter or the election administrator for the matching process, and no controversy.

Benefits for election administrators

The data submitted online is more complete and accurate than on paper forms.  Online registration significantly reduces the costly and heavy workload of entering data from paper forms, most of which are received when other election tasks are mounting.  In 2008, clerks struggled to process forms in time to get voters on the poll list.  If the bulk of registrations are handled automatically, our election administrators will be able to deal promptly with the paper forms from other voters. 

See a GAB report (large file) from January 2009: page 36 – basic data missing from forms.  Page 125 – illegible and incomplete.  Footnote page 38 – higher than normal date entry errors in October.

Benefits for Voters

For voters, online real-time registration means a more timely, accessible, and reliable way to register, with immediate confirmation that the registration has been accepted.  This eliminates worries about not being on the poll list due to faulty handling of a paper form, or failing the HAVA check.

Next Steps

A bill is expected to be introduced in March 2010.  The Government Accountability Board should develop a plan in accord with the bill, and work with the Department of Transportation on implementation.  These departments currently have some online capabilities.  The DOT offers online change-of-address and 6 other functions.  The GAB’s Voter Public Access offers lookup of polling place, representatives, and a sample ballot.

States that have systems or have passed bills, in order of activation

State Status Bill or Act Comments
Arizona active since 2002 ARS 16-111    16-112 16-152.E SOS FAQ; summary; press release
Washington active since 1/1/2008.  Passed 91-6, 30-17 HB 1528 29A.08.123; Rule 434-324-031 (both are short)   SOS FAQ. Same timelines as mail registration.  Cost to implement: $279,000.

Testimony to congress & attachments

Kansas Launched by Sec. of State July 2009 unknown Open to new & existing voters until 14 days before election.
Oregon passed by House 45-11, Senate 19-6, signed by Gov. Aug. 6 2009.  Turned on March 1, 2010 by SOS H 2386, 3 pages.  Enrolled bill Oregonian on House vote.  Oregonian on Senate vote. Will use $217,000 (based on Washington's cost) of HAVA funds.  Uses  Captcha & VeriSign SSL
California passed Sept. 30, 2008; 54-18, and 22-15. Scheduled for Dec. 2011 SB 381 (2007-8 session), 3 pages Hearing Nov 2007; press release. Closes 15 days before election.  Requires immediate matching of DOB and ID#.
Utah passed enabling legislation March 20, 2009 S.B. 25 "will not require additional appropriations." senate 22-2, House 58-14.  Deseret News
Indiana passed May 8, 2009, effective 7/1/09, requires OLR by 6/30/10 HB 1346 becomes Act 1346 cost indeterminable, will use existing $$.  Closes 29 days before election.
Colorado Signed into law May 15, 2009, requires OLR April 1, 2010 HB-09-1160.  Appropriation of $142,000 - See JBC Analysis link on top of bill's page Passed by the House 60 to 4, senate is unanimous.  Editorial.  Governor's Press release.  Denver Daily News.  With change of address, requires postcard to old address.  Closes 29 days before election.
Louisiana signed by Governor June 29, 2009; requires OLR April 1, 2010 HB 520, becomes Act 187, 4 pages passed by House 67-23, & Senate 35-0,  Will use $300,000 from HAVA


Bills that have been introduced but not passed, alphabetically

State Status Bill or Act Comments
Alabama Introduced Jan 26, 2010; reported out of committee 3/3 HB 424 "The Secretary of State shall use federal Help America Vote Act funds to implement and maintain secure Internet voting registration"
Georgia favorable committee report Feb 18, 2010 SB 406 requires immediate confirmation of DL or ID#
Hawaii Introduced Jan. 25, 2010 HB2406 requires immediate confirmation of DL or ID #
Michigan passed by House Dec 17, 2009, 68 aye, 36 no S 0347, same as H 4539 Those who do not have DL or state ID would be treated as registration by mail.  Detroit News
Minnesota bill submitted S.F. 661, sec. 2 & 4 SOS legislative proposals
Mississippi Feb 9, 2010 passed Senate SB2767 SOS shall study feasibility
Nevada passed by Assembly; amended version passed by Senate; died at end of session June 2009 AB82, 72 pages, 3rd reprint.  See Section 20 Enabling legislation.  May be re-introduced in 2011.
New Jersey introduced Nov 18, 2009 A-229 sponsored by Joan Quigley
New York bill introduced bill A4799; text, 2 pages  
Nebraska introduced Jan. 11, 2010 LB875 sponsored by Bob Giese
Ohio Passed by House Nov 19, 2009 HB 260 editorial
Wisconsin LRB2824/3 Circulating for co-sponsors until Friday March 12 Section-by section analysis.  Madison passes resolution urging OLR
Congress Oct 21 Hearing by House Committee on House Administration HR 1719 Lofgren.  AJR-36 resolution in California legislture to endorse 1719
Congress referred to House Committee on House Admin HR 4449 Kevin McCarthy, CA.  Would reimburse states for OLR.

From testimony of Katie Blinn, Assistant Director of Elections on behalf of Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed, to the Congressional Committee on House Administration, Oct 21, 2009:

“The online voter registration system has also been very popular with election administrators. It has reduced their workload because the information comes in electronically. They don’t have to spend so much time manually entering the information from paper forms. This also reduces the risk of mistyping a voter’s name, address, date of birth, etc.”

“If the applicant provides an incorrect or nonexistent driver’s license, the program will not allow the applicant to advance to the next screen and finish the application. While it might initially seem that this form of registration is more subject to fraud, it is actually less because it controls whether the user can advance through the application.”

Web page by Paul Malischke malischke@yahoo.com  Last updated March 09, 2010