opinion

Online voter registration is 'transformational'

Last week I made the historic announcement that all eligible Kentuckians will soon be able to register to vote online. I am proud to lead the charge to bring voter registration in Kentucky into the 21st century.

As Secretary of State, breaking down barriers to the ballot box has been a priority. Since 2012 we have made great strides in improving access for military and overseas voters, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and Kentuckians with disabilities. And we have taken important steps to protect the integrity of our elections, ensuring they remain free and fair.

Electronic voter registration is our most transformational reform to date. It is a pro-voter initiative that transcends party lines. It is endorsed by all living former Kentucky secretaries of state and numerous non-partisan organizations. And it is already being used in more than 20 other states—red states, blue states, big states, and small states.

Electronic voter registration paves the way to increased participation in our elections, which is vital to a successful democracy. It levels the playing field, improving for everyone access to and confidence in our voter rolls. And it provides a convenient, secure, efficient way for people to register to vote and update their information.

Electronic voter registration also saves county clerks resources because it does not require data entry, thus reducing both staff time and potential errors in our registration records. And it will save Kentucky money. For example, electronic voter registration saved 96 percent in Arizona and $500,000 in California compared with paper registration.

And Kentucky is ready. In the past year, more than 700 voters have used the online portal already in place for military and overseas voters, and it has been praised nationally by voters and election officials for how easy and convenient it is to use. If electronic registration can work for our military members in Iraq, it can work for our voters in Inez.

Electronic voter registration represents a new era in our elections. It’s an era in which we embrace technology to empower voters. It’s an era I’m excited to welcome.

Alison Lundergan Grimes is Secretary of State for Kentucky. Because she is a candidate for re-election to that office, this is the only opinion piece we'll publish before the election.