◼ California elections officials hope to make signing up to vote easier than ever through an online registration system that launched Wednesday. - AP via Times-Standard
Secretary of State Debra Bowen called the new process “great news for democracy.” She was joined by state lawmakers and voter advocates in Sacramento to announce the web feature, which is being made available for the first time ahead of the November election.
Supporters say it will help more than 6 million Californians who are qualified but have not registered. Republicans had opposed the bill that created complete online registration, saying the change could lead to voter fraud and additional costs.
Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Carolyn Crnich said she is anxious to see how the new online registration system will work out.
”If it means more voters in Humboldt County are actually going to be registered and voting then that's a good thing,” she said. “We will just have to wait and see if that is what happens.”
Under the new law, applicants can fill out a form online through the secretary of state's website or at www.registertovote.ca.gov . The application, which will include date of birth and the last four digits of the Social Security number, will be checked against their driver's license or the state identification card kept by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
If the information matches, an electronic image of the applicant's DMV signature will be added to the application at the end of the process.
If no signature is on file with the DMV, applicants will have to print out the form and mail the completed version to their county elections office. That essentially is the same process in place now.
”Today, the Internet replaces the mailbox for thousands of Californians wishing to register to vote,” Bowen said during a news conference.
She stressed that completing an online application does not lead to automatic registration. The information still has to be verified by county elections officials before an applicant is added to the voter rolls.
