110,000 Californians registered to vote online in first week of new system

SACRAMENTO –Approximately 110,000 Californians used the new online voter registration system during its first week of operation, the Secretary of State’s office.

As a result of a law authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo), last Wednesday the new system began to allow citizens to register to vote via the Internet or a mobile device.

“I am ecstatic with the popularity of this new voter registration system,” said Yee. “It is a game-changer for our democracy. While some states are suppressing the rights of voters, here in California we are significantly increasing participation.”

The new online voter registration system allows citizens whose signature is already on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles to submit their voter registration form to their county elections office electronically via the internet or a mobile device by visiting RegisterToVote.ca.gov.

In the 2008 presidential election, only 44 percent of eligible California citizens voted. In fact, more than 6 million Californians are eligible to vote and yet are not even registered to do so.

“In just the first week of operation, online registration has saved county election offices thousands of dollars,” said Yee. “Election clerks do not have to spend as much time and money entering data from paper registrations, which also results in fewer administrative errors.”

Californians have until October 22 to register for the November election.