AP: Pennsylvania wants to make it easier to register to vote when drivers get or renew a license

[BumRushDaShow]

Pennsylvania wants to make it easier to register to vote when drivers get or renew a license

Updated 6:04 AM EDT, September 19, 2023


HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration said starting Tuesday it is making it easier for someone to register to vote when they are getting or renewing a driver’s license in Pennsylvania.

Under the new format, prompts on the computer screens in driver’s license centers will take the user to a template to register to vote. That leaves it up to them to choose not to register. Previously, prompts on the computer screen first asked the user whether they wanted to register to vote.

Twenty-three other states and Washington, D.C., already have varying models of what is called “automatic voter registration,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The Shapiro administration said it does not need legislation or regulation to make the change at driver’s license centers.

There are currently 8.6 million registered voters in Pennsylvania, according to information from the state Department of State. More than 10 million Pennsylvanians out of 13 million total are at least 18 years old, the minimum legal age to vote, according to U.S. Census figures.

(snip)

https://apnews.com/article/voter-registration-elections-pennsylvania-josh-shapiro-b13287337172e36f06ef03c0e418389b

"Motor Voter" has literally been around for 30 years but this is an interesting electronic registration twist - rather than someone being required to "opt in" and easily skipping the registration screen, they would force someone to make that choice right away to "opt out" OR "opt in" by being sent directly to the registration screen. That might actually pick up a few more registrants than hoping someone would select to "opt in" and fill a voter registration form that way but probably never get around to that screen at all (i.e., one might just dismiss or not understand the option when completing the driver's license form).

Registering this way also reduces the chances for the RW loons to claim "fraud!!1!1!!!", which they frequently do against groups trying to do registrations because the person is doing this on an official government website.

[jimfields33]

1. Florida has had this for over a decade at least. It's great!