For More Information:
Dave Rosenfeld
(503) 231-4181 (Ext. 311)
Dave Rosenfeld 503-709-8676
ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION PASSES OREGON HOUSE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:March 20, 2009
CONTACT: Dave Rosenfeld, daver@ospirg.org, 503-709-8676
ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION PASSES OREGON HOUSE
The Oregon House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed
HB 2386, which would allow Oregonians with valid drivers’ licenses to register
to vote on a secure, Secretary of State-hosted website.The bill, sponsored by Representative Ben
Cannon (Portland,
District 46) now advances to the State Senate. If passed into law, Oregon will join Washington
and Arizona
as states with an online voter registration system.
“Online registration is a smart step toward modernizing Oregon’s voting system,”
said OSPIRG Executive Director Dave Rosenfeld, “This will give Oregonians yet
another access point to our political system.”
Online registration has proven to be popular in both Arizona and Washington.In 2003, the first year of Arizona's Online Voter Registration program,
25% of all new voter registrations were done online. That percentage then
jumped to 72% in 2007.More than half of
the applicants in Arizona
using online voter registration are between the ages of 18 and 30, a group that
historically has had low voter turnout.After Washington
implemented online voter registration, 1,634 online applications were recorded
in the first three days.
“Kudos to Representative Cannon, and to the House of
Representatives, for taking this important step toward bringing Oregon’s voting system
into the 21st century,” said Rosenfeld.
Online-Voter-Registration-Release-and-One-Pager.doc
