Online Voter Registration Act Signed

Today Governor Schwarzenegger signed a very important bill-SB 381, the Online Voter Registration Act. This bill will allow people to register online if they have a signature on file with the state DMV.

Previous attempts to register people online have always run into a problem: you couldn't do so without a signature. Attempts to get people to register via text messages or Rock The Vote's popular online voter registration tool have always involved the extra step of printing out and mailing an application or receiving a pre-filled out card in the mail to sign and return. For anyone with a California ID or driver's license, this requirement falls away.

As California Secretary of State Debra Bowen has said,

"Californians can pay bills and file their taxes online. Being able to register to vote online is the next logical step in making it easier for Californians to participate fully in their democracy."

Well said.

Why is this so important to young voters?

We move a lot. It's true. Much more so than any other group. And every time we move, we have to re-register.

We also use our computers and phones a lot. When this bill is implemented, we will be able to quickly and conveniently use that technology to register to vote online. No printers or stamps necessary.

Really, the only question will be: what's the coolest place to say you registered to vote from...?