Online voter registration in the works - Reed announces 2007 election reforms
Secretary of State Sam Reed yesterday announced a four-part, 2007 election reform package:
People who are comfortable banking, filixing taxes, and shopping online over a secure connection will very likely also be comfortable registering to vote online, if they are not registered already.
Reed is also proposing a solution that permits counties to count the partisan votes in cases where a voter fails to mark a party, but continues to vote a straight party ticket. Approximately 9% of those who cast consolidated ballots failed to check a party box in the September primary election.
We like Reed's fix and commend him for making it part of his reform package. It preserves the open primary and it benefits the electorate.
The two other changes are authorizing a statewide voter pamphlet for primary elections in even numbered years, and eliminating the unaffiliated ballot in the presidential preference primary.
(The unaffiliated ballot is for voters who choose not to identify with any political party. Reed is recommending eliminating the unaffiliated ballot because historically, the political parties have not counted votes on the unaffiliated ballots.)
Reed's reforms are common sense and welcome. In addition, as he noted, previous changes he has advocated which were adopted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor have been beneficial and successful.
Reed’s elections proposals allow Washington citizens to register to vote online, ensure that voters who fail to check a party box on their Primary Election ballot will still have their votes counted, authorize a primary voters’ pamphlet, and eliminate the unaffiliated ballot in the presidential preference primary.While we are nowhere near being able to have elections over the Internet, allowing citizens to register to vote online is a good step forward. Most citizens who are eligible to vote have a driver's license or state ID, and those who do not can still be registered via other methods. Previously, it was possible to download a registration form from the Secretary of State's website, fill it out, and mail it in. That option will likely be retained but being able to submit voter registration information over the Internet is taking the logical next step.
Reed’s legislation allowing electronic voter registration would make Washington a national front runner in modern election practices.
“People already enjoy the ability to file their taxes online, renew car tabs and a driver’s license online, make travel arrangements from a website, bank at home from their computer, and handle stock transactions through the internet,” said Reed. “Giving citizens the option to register to vote electronically would take Washington ’s voter registration system into the digital age.”
Citizens who have a Washington State driver’s license or state identification card would be able to register to vote online. The online registration process would require citizens to supply their first and last names, dates of birth, addresses, and driver’s license or state identification numbers.
People who are comfortable banking, filixing taxes, and shopping online over a secure connection will very likely also be comfortable registering to vote online, if they are not registered already.
Reed is also proposing a solution that permits counties to count the partisan votes in cases where a voter fails to mark a party, but continues to vote a straight party ticket. Approximately 9% of those who cast consolidated ballots failed to check a party box in the September primary election.
We like Reed's fix and commend him for making it part of his reform package. It preserves the open primary and it benefits the electorate.
The two other changes are authorizing a statewide voter pamphlet for primary elections in even numbered years, and eliminating the unaffiliated ballot in the presidential preference primary.
(The unaffiliated ballot is for voters who choose not to identify with any political party. Reed is recommending eliminating the unaffiliated ballot because historically, the political parties have not counted votes on the unaffiliated ballots.)
Reed's reforms are common sense and welcome. In addition, as he noted, previous changes he has advocated which were adopted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor have been beneficial and successful.
“Since 2004 Washington has adopted and implemented many elections reforms. The Legislature and county elections officials have done an outstanding job of addressing problems to improve our elections process. The 2006 Primary and General Elections went very smoothly. This shows the progress our state has made and that the improvements to our elections system are working.”Well said, Mr. Secretary.
