U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) is among the group of legislators who recently introduced a bill to make registering to vote easier.
A member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hirono joined U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and eight of her colleagues in creating the Register America to Vote Act. It requires every state to create a system to “register all eligible citizens to vote when they turn 18,” according to Hirono’s website. The states are also required to ensure all eligible voters are covered by automatic registration through motor vehicle agencies.
“The freedom to vote is fundamental to our democracy. This bill helps ensure every eligible American has the opportunity to exercise that freedom by making it easier to register to vote,” Hirono said on her website. “With states across the country enacting voter suppression laws and other efforts to limit the right to vote, it’s critical that we do everything in our power to protect voting rights. The Register America to Vote Act will build on the progress states like Hawaii have already made in enacting automatic voter registration, helping to secure the right of all Americans to have a say in our democracy.”
Automatic voter registration is utilized in 22 states, including Hawaii and the District of Columbia. Hawaii requires a voter registration application as part of the application for an identification card or driver’s license.
The Register America to Vote Act would also authorize $3 billion in grants to states to implement automatic voter registration, ask all voters to update their registration whenever they interact with motor vehicle agencies, create safeguards against the registration of ineligible voters and direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop voter database management standards and security policies.
In addition to Sens. Hirono and Klobuchar, the legislation was also sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
