Fiscal Note
This resolution encourages the establishment of online voter registration at the state level. If online registration is authorized, a modest amount of funding would be required for training. This cost, however, would be more than offset by savings of hourly staff wages.
Title
Urging passage of enabling legislation for online voter registration.
Body
WHEREAS the Madison City Clerk's Office processed 89,165 voter registration applications in 2008; and
WHEREAS the Madison City Clerk's Office processed over 30,000 voter registration applications in September and October of 2008; and
WHEREAS many voter registration applications submitted to the Clerk's Office are illegible or incomplete; and
WHEREAS it can take months for the Government Accountability Board to distribute voter registration forms to the appropriate municipality; and
WHEREAS the Madison City Clerk's Office needed to reroute hundreds of voter registration applications to the appropriate municipality in September and October of 2008; and
WHEREAS online voter registration would result in more accurate poll books; and
WHEREAS online voter registration would provide more efficient election administration; and
WHEREAS online voter registration would provide voters with an immediate confirmation of their voter registration; and
WHEREAS the Government Accountability Board's 2009-2014 draft plan for Wisconsin's Election Administration proposes that voters be allowed to submit registration forms online; and
WHEREAS the Madison Election Advisory Committee has recommended the implementation of online voter registration; now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison Common Council hereby urges the Governor and the Wisconsin State Legislature to support enabling legislation for online voter registration in the State of Wisconsin; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor Doyle, the Madison legislative delegation, and the Government Accountability Board.