Implementation of SB 5 comes just shy of two years after the bill was signed into law by Governor Carney

For Immediate Release:
June 22, 2023
Contact:
press@responsivegoverning.org

DOVER — After being passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor John Carney in 2021, Senate Bill 5 has officially gone into effect, implementing a secure automatic voter registration (SAVR) system in the state of Delaware. SAVR will streamline voter registration for eligible individuals through participating state agencies, making the process more secure, efficient and accessible.

With SB5 implemented, the state’s AVR system is now the gold standard — SAVR uses multiple layers of built-in verification to ensure the security and integrity of voter rolls while also saving taxpayer resources, diversifying the state’s voter rolls, increasing the accuracy of registration records, and expanding voting access across the state.

Sam Oliker-Friedland, executive director of the Institute for Responsive Government, issued the following statement:

“Delaware’s implementation of SAVR is an important step toward creating safe and accessible elections for all eligible voters in the First State. SAVR creates a more efficient voter registration process by streamlining eligibility verification and saves taxpayers’ time and money, all while improving the security, efficiency and accessibility of future elections.

“Delaware’s upgrade to SAVR is a critical update to the voter registration process and a clear win for the state. Both unregistered, but eligible, voters as well as voters who need to update their registration will have a secure and efficient way to ensure their information is accurate on the voter rolls.  

“We’ve already seen great success in states that already implemented SAVR — Colorado is a prime example. After Colorado adopted SAVR, automatic registration at participating state agencies nearly doubled, helping to close the unregistered-but-eligible voter gap. We’re excited to see similar advancements in Delaware. 

“As SB5 takes effect in Delaware, legislators in other states continue to adopt SAVR. Over the past five months, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Washington all passed legislation upgrading to SAVR systems, continuing the trend of creating responsive government systems for Americans while strengthening commitments to civic participation.

“Delaware’s adoption of SAVR would not have been possible without leadership from Senator Kyle Evans Gay, former Representative David Bentz, and Governor John Carney, and all those who advocated in favor of this bill’s passage. And implementation would not have been possible without State Election Commissioner Anthony Albence and Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Nicole Majeski, who spearheaded the implementation efforts. From all of us at IRG, congratulations!”

To speak with subject matter experts about Delaware implementing a Secure Automatic Voter Registration system, please contact press@responsivegoverning.org.

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The Institute for Responsive Government is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring state and federal governments work effectively for the very people they serve. IRG provides data, research, and expertise to elected officials in order to find practical policy solutions that make government systems more efficient, accessible, and responsive.