Florida Approves Online Voter Registration

On May 15, Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) signed into law S.B. 228, a bill authorizing online voter registration in the state and requiring that it be implemented by October 2017. This system will allow eligible Florida citizens to complete and submit a new voter registration application—or update existing information—electronically without having to print, sign, or mail any paper forms.

The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Florida Legislature and was championed by the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections. The online registration system will link electronically with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to verify voters’ identities and import their digital signatures.

Twenty states and the District of Columbia have online voter registration systems. Another seven, including Florida, have passed legislation approving the creation of online voter registration systems. Research has shown that online registration saves governments money, increases the accuracy of voter rolls, and is easy and convenient for American voters. 

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