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Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
Wed Apr 24, 2013, 07:07 PM Apr 2013

Texas Senate Passes Bill to Allow Online Voter Registration


Texas Senate Passes Bill to Allow Online Voter Registration

Yesterday, a bipartisan group of Texas Senators passed very sensible legislation which will provide for the establishment of an online voter registration system for Texans. SB 315, sponsored by Sen. Carlos Uresti, passed by a 21-10 vote on third reading after having passed 7-0 out of committee. It will now move to the House for approval where similar bipartisan legislation has been filed in the form of HB 313. ... -snip-

-snip-

Voters with an unexpired driver's license or personal identification card will be able to go to an official state website where they will be able to register to vote online. The Texas Department of Public Safety already maintains records of most of the required information in order to register to vote and more importantly, maintains a database of signatures used on the cards they issue. The issue of a signature has been the stumbling point in previous calls for online voter registration and thanks to advances in technology is one we can now move past.

-snip-

http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/13424/texas-senate-passes-bill-to-allow-online-voter-registration


Wow! That's a surprise. Now let's hope Texas House doesn't screw it up

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Texas Senate Passes Bill to Allow Online Voter Registration (Original Post) Tx4obama Apr 2013 OP
Wow!!! Some good news!!! RKP5637 Apr 2013 #1
This law could be very helpful Gothmog Apr 2013 #2
We have online voter registration here in Indiana. LiberalFighter Apr 2013 #3
That is great davidpdx Apr 2013 #4
I could see this happening, if.... SmittynMo Apr 2013 #5
This is...odd, for Texas. Arkana Apr 2013 #6
my Texas driver's license already can be renewed online and asks if want to register to vote. Sunlei Apr 2013 #7

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
2. This law could be very helpful
Wed Apr 24, 2013, 07:14 PM
Apr 2013

I have been following the progress of this law for some time. There is a study that shows that the cost of registering a voter will go down from $0.84 to $0.03 per voter. I started a thread on this action on the Texas group http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788126

I am hoping that we can engineer an app so that we can register voters on Ipads or other tablets. In theory, you will not need to be deputy voter registrar to help someone register themselves on a tablet or Ipad.

LiberalFighter

(50,504 posts)
3. We have online voter registration here in Indiana.
Wed Apr 24, 2013, 10:17 PM
Apr 2013

So far works great. Did a voter drive in the factory last year and also at the union hall in 2011 and 2012. We had it set up to print confirmations for them too so they had a record of it. One time didn't have access to a printer so saved as a pdf and then emailed to the new voter. If they didn't have email I had it emailed to the secretary for printing and pickup later.

SmittynMo

(3,544 posts)
5. I could see this happening, if....
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 10:06 AM
Apr 2013

the process was tested over and over. Hacking into the machines and/or databases has been an issue in the past. I have yet to see any online voting system work properly to date. Remember, just before the 2012 elections, they put a test system online and asked people to hack it. It was hacked within one day. I remember when the Diebold machines were put in many years ago, and there was no protection of the code, which was online, unprotected. Someone copied the code, without any problem at all and let everyone know. I even saw an HBO special where one guy hacked into the results without ever entering the room where the machines were. True that was years ago, but I suggest stringent testing before I would trust any system they put online. Hey, this is our political system, and I value it tremendously. Every effort should be made to protect your vote. Imagine the consequences if they got it wrong (again).

Arkana

(24,347 posts)
6. This is...odd, for Texas.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 11:58 AM
Apr 2013

It could potentially let the "wrong" types of people vote. Aren't they aware of that?

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
7. my Texas driver's license already can be renewed online and asks if want to register to vote.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 03:24 PM
Apr 2013

Even if I change address online, I can register to vote again.

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