SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR SB 381

SB 381 (Calderon)My military & veterans clients have been asked to support SB 381 by Senator Ron Calderon. I recommend we support this bill. Please see the attached information from the Senator’s office.

Pete Conaty
Pete Conaty & Associates

*********

Mr. Conaty,
I have attached some background information from our informational hearing on this subject. This bill will implement online voter registration similar to the system that has been used in Arizona since 2002 and Washington since the beginning of this year.

I am sure this is a bill your veteran and military clients would be interested in supporting. It would permit Californians, including those serving in the military either domestically or overseas, to easily and instantaneously register to vote even at the very last minute before the statutory deadline. Currently, all voter registration in California ultimately utilizes a paper affidavit. Voters can partially complete a registration form online but a hard copy must still be printed out or mailed to them so they can provide a signature. Once the signature is affixed, the paper form must then be forwarded to the appropriate county elections official or Secretary of State. This current system is slow and costly. Senate Bill 381 will permit eligible persons to register to vote over the internet utilizing digitized signatures on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Accessing the DMV signatures makes it possible to complete the entire voter registration process over the internet.

As you know, virtually every member of our military now has access to the internet wherever they are stationed. In fact, my son is in the US Navy serving on the attack sub USS Jefferson City, and we receive emails from him even while he is submerged.

Please review the attached information and let me know if you need anything else. I anticipate we will hear the bill in Assembly E&R sometime in June.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.

Darren Chesin
Chief Consultant
Senate Committee on Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments
State Capitol, Room 2203
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4106

********

Senator Calderon Introduces Bill to Permit Online Voter Registration

SACRAMENTO – Senator Ron Calderon, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments, introduced legislation today to permit internet voter registration for Californians.

“Online voter registration will encourage new voters to participate, especially young voters and those serving in the military overseas,” said Calderon (D-Montebello). “Arizona has made this available since 2002 where it has proved to be convenient, secure, and instantaneous for voters and a money saver for government.”

Currently, all voter registration in California ultimately utilizes a paper affidavit. Voters can partially complete a registration form online but a hard copy must still be printed out or mailed to them so they can provide a signature. Once the signature is affixed, the paper form must then be forwarded to the appropriate county elections official or Secretary of State. This current system is slow and costly.

Senate Bill 381, which was amended today to include the online voter registration language, will permit most eligible persons to register to vote over the internet utilizing digitized signatures on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Accessing the DMV signatures makes it possible to complete the entire voter registration process over the internet.

“Californians already enjoy the convenience of conducting all kinds of e-government business, from filing tax returns to enrolling in college,” said Calderon. “The ability to register to vote or to update an existing registration online is long overdue. SB 381 will finally make it happen.”

Comments RSS