California Set To Launch Online Voter Registration System

Media Contact:

September 18, 2012

Phillip Ung, (916) 520-4070

California Set to Launch Online Voter Registration System

Common Cause sponsored legislation leads to system’s development

Sacramento, CA – Tomorrow, California’s Secretary of State will launch the state’s first ever Online Voter Registration system, after months of dedicated efforts that included interagency collaborations and third party partners to develop and test the system before November’s historic elections. California’s Online Voter Registration was made possible by legislation sponsored by Common Cause in 2011, Senate Bill 397 (Yee). California Common Cause has worked closely with state election officials and Department of Motor Vehicles and county elections officials as well as a large group of non-profit and campus groups to develop tools and programs to promote this new election registration technology.

“California has taken an important step in making voting accessible, free and fair for all eligible voters,” said Kathay Feng, executive director for California Common Cause, “California’s new Online Voter Registration system not only will save the state and counties millions of dollars in data entry, voters’ information will be secure, the data will be more accurate, and voters will have ease of access to register to vote.”

California Common Cause expects millions of voters, particularly young or mobile voters, to use this innovative system over the next few years. With the implementation of Online Voter Registration in time for the November 2012 election, California has positioned itself at the front of efforts to increase voter registration and participation. Voters will have the option to register online at www.registertovote.ca.gov or pick up and mail a registration form from one of many public locations.

California Online Voter Registration is scheduled to launch at Noon on Wednesday, September 19, 2012.

California Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to restoring an open, honest, and accountable government, also working to strengthen public participation and ensuring that political processes serve the public interest, rather than the special interests.