The Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2017 would modernize the nation’s voter registration systems and make it easier for Americans to vote and participate in our democracy
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) have introduced legislation to increase voter participation. The Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2017 would modernize the nation’s voter registration systems and make it easier for Americans to vote and participate in our democracy.
"The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and we should be doing all we can to strengthen this right,” Klobuchar said. “Minnesota has one of the highest statewide voter turnout rates in the country, and our new effort will help ensure that Americans in all our states have their voices heard.”
The Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2017 requires states to automatically register eligible voters when they interact with certain state and federal agencies, unless those people decline. The legislation would streamline the voter registration process and allow citizens to register online, making it easier for people who move to update their information and be able to exercise their right to vote. It also includes important privacy protections, and makes it clear that the information used to automatically register voters will remain secure.
Eight states—Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia—have approved automatic voter registration programs. A report by the Brennan Center estimated that automatic voter registration could add 50 million eligible voters to the rolls.
The Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2017 has the support of leading civil rights organizations, including the Brennan Center for Justice, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the League of Women Voters, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
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