Register to vote — online

Well this should make voter registration for Californians a little easier…

The Assembly Elections and Redistricting committee this week voted 7-0 to approve state Sen. Ron Calderon’s SB 381 to permit Internet voter registration for Californians.

“Online voter registration will encourage new voters to participate, especially young voters and those serving in the military overseas,” said Calderon, D-Montebello.

“Arizona has made this available since 2002 where it has proved to be convenient, secure, and instantaneous for voters and a money saver for government.”

Currently, all voter registration in California ultimately utilizes a paper affidavit.

Voters can partially complete a registration form online but a hard copy must still be printed out or mailed to them so they can provide a signature. Once the signature is affixed, the paper form must then be forwarded to the appropriate county elections official or secretary of state.

The bill will permit most eligible persons to register to vote over the Internet utilizing digitized signatures on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Accessing the DMV signatures makes it possible to complete the entire voter registration process over the Internet.

So here’s a question: Do you think online voter registration will increase voter turnout?