ST. PAUL, MN – Last night state lawmakers in the Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation that makes Minnesota’s best-in-the-nation elections system even better.
House File 2096, which passed by a vote of 129-2, authorizes eligible Minnesota voters to submit a voter registration application through a secure website maintained by the secretary of state.
State Representative Steve Simon (DFL – Hopkins), Chair of the House Elections Committee and the bill’s chief author, said the bill makes online voter registration a permanent option for all eligible voters in the state.
“Online voter registration strengthens Minnesotans’ ability to participate in our democratic process,” said Simon. “We do so much online these days from booking plane tickets to renewing our license tabs and all sorts of other public and private services so in my mind this is a matter of convenience for voters. It’s something they strongly support. And we’ve heard from election officials throughout the state that it will save them time and money.”
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, as of April 2014, a total of 16 states offer online registration, and another four states have passed legislation to create online voter registration systems, but have not yet implemented them. Additionally, six states presently offer limited online voter registration.
“This policy has been implemented in red states and blue states, so it really is a bipartisan issue,” added Simon. “I’m pleased both Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House voted for the bill. It meets the Governor’s requirement of broad bipartisan support for legislation reforming Minnesota's elections system. And it builds on the bipartisan steps we took in 2013 to strengthen voting rights in Minnesota, such as implementing no-excuses absentee voting.”
Ahead of the 2014 Legislative Session, Rep. Simon held an Elections Committee hearing to examine the issue of online voter registration more closely.
A diverse group of individuals from all backgrounds and expertise testified before the committee, including Minnesota’s deputy Secretary of State, county-level government officials, representatives from the League of Women Voters – Minnesota, college students, and legal advocates for people with disabilities.
“This is something counties have been asking for for a number of years,” Stearns County Auditor and Treasurer Randy Schreifels said at the January 28 hearing. “Online voter registration is more convenient for the citizen and it saves the county a lot of time and money.”
Crow Wing County Taxpayer Services Manager Deborah Erickson echoed those sentiments, explaining that “with an online process, counties will be able to serve the voter in a more efficient way without incurring additional costs.”
Deputy Secretary of State Beth Fraser pointed out that online voter registration is not a new concept, noting how Arizona became the first state to offer it to voters in 2002. Fraser also highlighted “incredible cost savings” achieved through online registration, noting how in Arizona, it costs the state $0.83 to process a paper application as opposed to $0.03 online.
Although those amounts look small on an individual basis, it would add up to huge taxpayer savings for Minnesota, a state that consistently leads the nation in voter turnout.
Steve Schmidt, an attorney with the Minnesota Disability Law Center, underscored how online voter registration makes a positive difference not only in terms of savings for taxpayers, but also in Minnesotans’ ability to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
“Historically, people with disabilities have faced significant barriers to registering and voting. We believe that HF 2096 will make it easier for individuals with disabilities to vote, and will encourage people with disabilities to more fully engage in the political process.”