3 More States Offer Online Voter Registration

Article By: Samuel Derheimer & Keara Castaldo Read time:
Projects: Election Initiatives
3 More States Offer Online Voter Registration

Alaska, Iowa, and New Mexico are the latest states to launch online voter registration systems, bringing the number of states that allow citizens to register to vote and update their registrations entirely online to 29, plus the District of Columbia. Online registration services are more convenient and efficient for voters, consume less time and resources of state and local officials, and result in fewer inaccuracies than handwritten paper forms.

Alaska’s new system requires applicants to log in using their driver’s license or state-issued identification card numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. Eligible individuals who do not have state-issued IDs may still fill out their applications online but must then print and sign paper forms.

Iowa and New Mexico released their online registration systems this month in both English and Spanish. Their verification processes are similar to Alaska’s, but New Mexico requires a full Social Security number, while Iowa requires the last five digits. New Mexico implemented its site a full year before its legislative mandate, and, unlike other states offering online registration, it will accept expired licenses or state IDs for log-ins.

Click here to see which states offer citizens the opportunity to register to vote online and to find the link to your state’s portal.

Keara Castaldo is a research associate and Samuel Derheimer is a manager of election initiatives at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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Article March 1, 2016

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