A Democrat lawmaker’s plan to make voter registration automatic based upon information about the Ohio electorate stored in government and secondary school databases is stalled in committee as of summer recess. House Bill 14, referred to the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee in the Ohio House of Representatives in February, has failed to gain any traction among committee members, despite Kent Rep. Kathleen Clyde’s promise of an additional million Ohio voters added to the rolls. “Automatic voter registration is a far more sensible way to make the list of eligible voters in Ohio,” Clyde said of the plan promoted in the bill she sponsored. “House Bill 14 will allow Ohioans to be added to the rolls when they do everyday things like get a driver’s license, seek disability services or simply turn 18.”
Automatic voter registrations would be triggered by state driver’s license and state ID registration, interaction with Job and Family Services and other federal Motor Voter law agencies and for all 18 year-old public and private school students.
Rather than opting in to register, Clyde’s bill offers an opt-out period. Specifically, HB 14 would allow every person 21 days to opt out of voter registration in person or by mail.
Full Article: Dem lawmaker wants voter registration to be automatic – The Daily Reporter.