Advances in Voter Registration Modernization
- Electronic Voter Registration: Louisiana first launched electronic voter registration at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) in 2009, and fully eliminated the use of paper from the process in 2013. OMV clerks input voters’ vocal responses electronically and collect signatures on an electronic pad. Voter registration information is automatically transferred to election officials every 30 minutes.
- Online Voter Registration: Louisiana launched online voter registration through the Secretary of State’s office in 2010. Eligible citizens with a state driver’s license or non-driver ID can use the system to register to vote and update their registration information.
- Preregistration: 16– and 17-year-olds can preregister to vote. Those who preregister can vote once they turn 18 without needing to re-register.
Gains from Voter Registration Modernization in Louisiana
The steps Louisiana has taken thus far have yielded increases in voter registration and financial benefits for the state. For example:
- During a 2010 interview with Brennan Center staff, Louisiana election officials reported that online registration has halved the amount of time required to process registration applications in Orleans Parish.
- OMV registration rates nearly doubled in the two year period following the launch of electronic registration in 2009.
- Between November 2014 and November 2016, the state received 138,009 new voter registration applications through its online portal.