WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar introduced legislation to automatically register voters, a news release from her office stated Wednesday.
The Register America to Vote Act would ensure every state develops and implements a secure process to automatically register eligible citizens to vote when they turn 18. Minnesota is among the 32 states where automatic voter registration bill have been introduced. Last year, Minnesotans turned out to vote at the highest rate of any state in the country with 81 percent of registered voters casting a ballot.
Klobuchar is the ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight jurisdiction over federal elections.
"Voting is how Americans ensure that their elected leaders are held accountable and their voices are heard. With less than a year until the next federal election, we should be doing everything we can to encourage participation in elections and strengthen the right to vote," Klobuchar said. "Automatic voter registration is an important way to do that. My bill would provide states with the resources they need to make sure we get eligible voters registered and our voter registration systems are secure."
The Register America to Vote Act would also provide states with resources to implement automatic voter registration in a way that protects the security of voter registration and election systems, according to the release.