Online Voter Registration+
Secure, convenient voter registration at your fingertips
The Gap
In many states, online voter registration (OVR) only works for people with a state driver’s license or other DMV-issued ID. OVR requires a digital image of the voter’s signature – conveniently, license numbers are attached to signatures already stored in DMV databases. However, this means eligible voters who don’t have DMV IDs must use cumbersome paper forms to register to vote.
The Solution
With OVR+, all eligible voters can register online. People who don’t have a DMV ID can instead upload a photo of their signature. It’s really that simple.
State of Play
OVR+ is available in the following states:
In some states, more than 1 in 10 adults lack a driver’s license. Many are young or low-income people. Elderly and recently moved people are also likely beneficiaries.
How the Policy Works
OVR+ leverages the proliferation of smartphones and digital cameras to allow eligible voters who lack DMV IDs to register to vote online. Users without a DMV ID number can provide the last four digits of their social security number and upload a photo of their own signature to complete their voter registration. Election officials review and confirm the quality of the uploaded signature prior to processing the application. An added bonus? Often, user-uploaded signature images are higher quality than DMV signatures. This can help states with signature-matching on mail ballots.
Why Responsive Gov Cares
OVR+ is a classic Responsive Gov policy: A pragmatic technological solution to advance registration and reduce bureaucratic burdens for voters and election officials. OVR+ also contributes to registration accuracy. Paper forms are error-prone and labor intensive. Reducing paper volume saves time and money while reducing paperwork.
