Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted says the state is moving closer to establishing online voter registration. On Wednesday morning, he testified before an Ohio senate committee calling for the passage of a bill making it easier for voters to register. Husted says the bill has widespread support among lawmakers.
“Democrats and republicans that run elections across the state have endorsed this," he said. "County commissioners across the state have written letters of support—great for counties because the savings accrues at the county level.”
According to Husted, online registration would save local counties and boards of elections millions of dollars in administrative costs, and would mean more security for voters.
Although the online registration would not replace the paper registration form, Husted says “There is a greater chance that fraud can happen through a paper system than there is through an electronic system."
The senate plans to take up the bill by the end of summer. It would then move to the Ohio House.