After Labor Day weekend, Californians will be able to register to vote online through a one-click process, according to a memorandum sent to all county clerks and registrars dated Aug. 22, 2012.
The California Secretary of State (SOS), the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and California’s three Election Management System vendors—DIMS, DFM and Votec—are in the final stages of testing the registration application system called California Online Voter Registration (COVR).
"I am thrilled that I’ll soon be rolling out the next phase of online voter registration and Californians will have one more way to register to vote," said SOS Debra Bowen. "My goal with online voter registration is to make registering to vote as easy, convenient and secure as possible."
The SOS began to design COVR after Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 397 in Oct. 2011. The bill, by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, allowed the state to begin registering voters online ahead of the completion of the statewide voter registration database.
The SOS already has an online tool through which residents could complete their form online, print and mail in voter registrations. Since implementation, half a million people have used that tool, according to Shannan Velayas, SOS spokesperson.
"Now we’re offering the final step: the transfer of data from the DMV to pull the signature that’s needed for voter registration so they can submit the forms online," Velayas said. "The SOS had to build an infrastructure that was secure and reliable to do this."
Here’s how it works: When a person fills out a voter registration application on the COVR website, the SOS will match the applicant’s California driver license or identification card number, date of birth and last four social security digits against the DMV database. If an exact match is found, the DMV will send the applicant’s electronic signature image on file with the DMV to the SOS.
This week all 58 counties received mandatory upgrades to their electronic management systems as well as WebEx training on COVR.
Counties are responding positively to the new strategy thus far.
"It’s pretty straightforward," said Debbie Smith, elections supervisor for Amador County. "The new system should reduce staff time."
The DMV has electronic signature images on file for approximately 94 percent of California citizens, eliminating the need for most people to sign a paper voter registration application. The cost to design, build and implement COVR is paid by the SOS using federal Help America Vote Act and Federal Voting Assistance Program grant funds.
According to a 2010 report by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), eight of the 38 member states allow voters to register to vote online. California makes nine.
"It’s easier now more than ever to register to vote. Hopefully, we will see the highest number of registrations yet in California," Velayas said.
The registration deadline for the Nov. 6, 2012 general election is Oct. 22. Spokespersons say the COVR website will be available sometime soon after Labor Day weekend at www.registertovote.ca.gov. For more information, visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote.
