Top Illinois Democrats push for automatic voter registration
(Erik Hersman/Flickr)
CHICAGO (AP) — Top Illinois Democrats threw their support behind a plan for automatic voter registration in the state, saying Friday that a new modernized process could boost civic engagement and cut costs.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, along with youth and minority advocacy groups, pitched the proposal as a way to remove barriers and contrast Republican-led efforts in other states, such as voter ID laws, that they say curbs voter eligibility.
"We believe that giving people an opportunity to register and to vote is the best way for them to exercise their Democratic options, their democratic rights, and be part of a process that changes the government in years to come," Durbin said.
The Illinois proposal, which is similar to laws in Oregon and California, would automatically register qualified residents to vote when they go to a secretary of state's facility to apply for or renew a driver's license or other state ID unless they opt out. Officials said they're considering adding other agencies where people apply for services or benefits, and those legislation changes could emerge as early as next week.
Opponents have worried such changes could lead to automatically registering non-citizens and voter fraud. Proponents dismissed those concerns Friday, arguing an electronic system would be more accurate.
Cullerton said Illinois is already leader in voter access, something noted by President Barack Obama last week, and the proposal was a next step.
Illinois teens who are 17 can vote in primaries if they turn 18 by the general election. The state also began same-day voter registration in 2014. Republicans have alleged both laws were attempts to boost Democratic voter turnout ahead of critical contests, and Illinois GOP leaders also expressed reservations Friday about the new registration proposal.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said potential voters should have to choose to opt in, not vice versa. Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno said through a spokeswoman that she's willing to review the proposal, but Democrats should also consider term limits. Messages to Gov. Bruce Rauner's spokeswoman weren't immediately returned.
The likelihood of Illinois having automatic registration before November is uncertain.
Backers insist it's possible, even as issues in Springfield are overshadowed by the historic budget stalemate that the Democrat-majority Legislature and the Republican governor are locked in. But if automatic registration is approved, the system would still have to be developed.
State Sen. Andy Manar, Bunker Hill Democrat, said he sponsored the bill in part as a cost-cutting measure, though he wasn't able to immediately detail how much the state would save.
Estimates on new potential voters were also scarce, but one projection by New York-based public policy organization Demos said it could be about 1 million Illinois voters.
Still, advocacy groups said the plan would inspire voters.
"Automatic voter registration would be a game-changer for young people," said Zana Marino, a self-described "millennial" with youth advocacy group, Chicago Votes.
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Follow Sophia Tareen at http://twitter.com/sophiatareen.