PA automatic voter registration

Posted 8/21/12

HARRISBURG, PA — State Reps. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) and Scott Conklin (D-Centre) plan to introduce legislation reforming Pennsylvania’s voter registration system by instituting automatic …

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PA automatic voter registration

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HARRISBURG, PA — State Reps. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) and Scott Conklin (D-Centre) plan to introduce legislation reforming Pennsylvania’s voter registration system by instituting automatic registration of all eligible voters, with provisions for opting out.

“Voting is a fundamental right of all Americans, but one which many forgo due to the burdens associated with voter registration, and the time and financial costs resulting from going to the polls. As technology continues its rapid advance, legislators must find efficient and less taxing methods for helping the citizens of Pennsylvania to exercise this fundamental right,” Sims said.

Conklin said, “Under our proposal, the responsibility of voter registration would be passed from eligible voters onto the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Beginning July 1, 2015, the secretary of the commonwealth would initiate a program to automatically register eligible voters whose information is provided to PennDOT for obtaining a driver’s license or non-driver identification card. The Department of State would use the PennDOT data, which includes information on whether a person is a citizen, to register voters. These newly registered voters would then be sent a postcard with information on how to opt out of registration altogether and how to choose a party affiliation.”

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