Oregon is first state to adopt automatic voter registration

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Oregon is first state to adopt automatic voter registration
By SHEILA V KUMAR, Associated Press | March 16, 2015 | Updated: March 16, 2015 9:40pm


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Photo By Don Ryan/AP

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown holds up an automatic voter registration bill after signing it, Monday, March 16, 2015, in
Salem, Ore. Seventeen years after Oregon decided to become the first state in the nation to hold all elections by
mail ballot, it is taking another pioneering step to encourage more people to cast ballots, by automatically
registering them to vote.
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SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Seventeen years after Oregon decided to become the first state to hold all elections with mail-in ballots, it took another pioneering step on Monday to broaden participation by automatically registering people to vote.

Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill that puts the burden of registration on the state instead of voters.

Under the legislation, every adult citizen in Oregon who has interacted with the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division since 2013 but hasn't registered to vote will receive a ballot in the mail at least 20 days before the next statewide election. The measure is expected to add about 300,000 new voters to the rolls.

"It just changes expectations for who's responsible for making elections work," said Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and director of the Elections Research Center. "In every other state it's the responsibility for the voters to make sure it happens."


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Oregon-is-first-state-to-adopt-automatic-voter-6137120.php

[Ken Burch]

1. Here, Here!

Now we need to fight to get it everywhere else.

[blue neen]

2. Fantastic news!

Off to the Greatest Page this goes!

[libodem]

3. .

[rhett o rick]

4. Bravo, Oregon. nm

[libodem]

5. .

[hopemountain]

6. woo-hoo, oregon!

as a person of color who votes in oregon - it was wonderful to complete my mail in ballot. this saved me the prior humiliations of being the only person i ever saw at my poll who was always asked to show a picture i.d.

and now, abracadabra - one get's their driver's license and a voting registration. bravo, gov. brown! i am so happy for all of the other persons of color who have been humiliated along with me - as this shall be nor more!

[Backwoodsrider]

10. I am a disabled Oregonian and I was glad to get the ballot by mail too

already been in debate about the new opt in/opt out law so just going to keep quiet

[hopemountain]

11. it will be worked out

maybe as simple as a check box. in the meantime,

[cheri010353]

7. Just one

of the many reasons I LOVE my state!

[Jon82]

8. Great move

Every state should do this.

[daleanime]

9. Nice!

[SoapBox]

12. Good job Oregon!

And you've sent the wackos on Yahoo into a meltdown...giving the vote to any illegal that wants it, don't ya know.

Suck on it Righties!

[newthinking]

13. This is a MAJOR deal! Good for Oregon!

[Hulk]

14. Proud of my home state!!

The exact opposite of states controlled by repuKKKes.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. So happy about this, in the 2014 midterms, Oregon had 70% turnout and elected Democrats and

passed progressive legislation. Voting is fun and easy!

[kelliekat44]

16. It would be wonderful if all states would adopt this for national elections. nt

[marions ghost]

17. Do you guys realize how important this is?

OMG OMG OMG THANK YOU OREGON


THIS MUST HAPPEN IN EVERY STATE !!!! if we are going to turn this country around
and bring it into the 21st century

[Sunlei]

18. Every State! This will also 'crosscheck' fake addresses as unmailable ballots will be bounced back

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

19. Awsomesauce!! (LOL)