AB 805

Currently, a qualified elector may register to vote at any election by mail, in

person at the office of the municipal or county clerk or board of election

commissioners for the municipality or county where the elector resides, or by

completing a registration form with a special registration deputy no later than the

20th day before the election. A qualified elector may also register to vote at an

election in person at the office of the municipal clerk or board of election

commissioners for the municipality where the elector resides no later than 5 p.m. on

the Friday before the election. In order to register, an elector must provide his or her

name and address and certain other information required to ascertain his or her

eligibility and must sign the form. An elector must also provide proof of residence.

Currently, the clerk or board of election commissioners must verify each registration

received by mail or submitted by a special registration deputy by sending a

first-class letter or postcard to the registrant at the registrant's address.

This bill permits a qualified elector who has a current and valid driver's license

or identification card issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to register

to vote at an election electronically on a secure Internet site maintained by the

Government Accountability Board (GAB). The bill requires an electronic

registration to be completed no later than the 20th day before an election in order to

be valid for that election. Under the bill, a qualified elector enters the same

information that appears on the current registration form and authorizes DOT to

forward a copy of his or her electronic signature to GAB. The authorization affirms

that all information provided by the elector is correct and has the same effect as if

the elector signed the form personally. If an elector does not have a current and valid

driver's license or identification card, the elector may complete an electronic

registration by uploading a copy of the elector's signature and providing the last four

digits of the elector's social security number, except that the elector may check a box

on the electronic application attesting to the accuracy of the information contained

in the application instead of uploading his or her signature. An eligible elector who

does not have a driver's license or identification card must also upload a copy of his

or her proof of residence. The bill also permits an elector who is currently registered

to vote to electronically enter a change of name or address using a similar procedure.

In accordance with the existing procedure for verifying registrations that are not

received at the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners, the

bill provides that when an electronic registration is received, GAB or the clerk or

board of election commissioners of the elector's municipality of residence must verify

each electronic registration by sending a first-class letter or postcard to the

registrant at the registrant's address.

Currently, each municipal clerk and board of election commissioners must

maintain a file of voter registration forms for the electors of the municipality. This

bill provides that the clerk or board must maintain registrations that are entered