Electronic voter registration, verification of certain registrations, and proof of residence for voting in an election and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

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 electronically in the manner prescribed by GAB, by rule.

The changes first apply with respect to registration for voting at the first spring or partisan primary election that follows the day on which the bill becomes law by at least six months.