[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 66 (Monday, May 4, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  VOTER REGISTRATION MODERNIZATION ACT

  Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I am proud to join Senator Gillibrand in 
support of the introduction of the Voter Registration Modernization Act 
of 2015. This bill would improve the fabric of our democracy and bring 
our election procedures into the 21st century by eradicating barriers 
to voter registration and expanding access to the franchise for 
millions of voters who were previously unregistered to vote. I thank 
Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on this issue.
  The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. In our 
representative form of government, the right to participate in the 
democratic process is fundamental to who we are and what we believe. 
That is, our belief in being a nation grounded in the idea of equal 
justice under law. Voting is a fundamental right because it is 
preservative of all other rights. Without access to the ballot, our 
civil rights and freedoms of religion, speech, and press could be 
eroded and our faith that those rights will be fully protected lost.
  In 2012, our Nation witnessed cracks in the foundation of our 
democracy. Millions of people watched television coverage of our 
presidential election in disgust as voters stood in lines for hours, 
mainly due to problems with the paper-based voter registration system. 
No American in the 21st century should have to use paper ballots or 
stand in lines for hours in order to exercise their fundamental right 
to vote. The President's bipartisan commission to improve the election 
process concluded that no voter should have to wait more than 30 
minutes to vote. We should be making voting easier, not harder. We can 
begin that process by ensuring that States modernize their voter 
registration process and give citizens the choice to register to vote 
online.
  When the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 was passed two 
decades ago, the revolution in data sharing and integration was just 
beginning. It is time to incorporate the commonplace experience of 
online transactions into the election process. By implementing online 
voter registration, the Voter Registration Modernization Act addresses 
a key problem with paper-based systems--the inaccurate transfer of 
information to election authorities. This bill would ensure that 
voters' votes count and help election authorities who rely on accurate 
voter registration lists to better detect problems.
  Currently, 20 States have online voter registration systems. One of 
the greatest benefits we have seen so far is the saving of taxpayers' 
money. Arizona, for example, which launched the Nation's first online 
voter registration system, saved its taxpayers almost $1.4 million. 
Kansas noted no expenses at all. It is now time for the Federal 
Government to follow their lead and adopt these common-sense, cost 
cutting reforms.
  The Voter Registration Modernization Act amends the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 to provide for online voter registration 
systems. It provides funding for States to implement the bill and 
directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct 
an ongoing study on best practices for Internet registration. With 
passage of this bill, States are required to adopt pro-technology 
measures, including taking steps to ensure the online availability of 
voter registration forms, provide online assistance, and allow voters 
to update registration information online.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said ``The arc of the moral universe is 
long, but it bends towards justice.'' But that arc does not bend 
towards justice without effort. We must put in the necessary hard 
work--and build the foundation and infrastructure--for justice to 
prevail. We can improve the health of our democracy by supporting this 
critical legislation, which would expand the ballot and update our 
voting technology. I urge all Senators to support the Voter 
Registration Modernization Act of 2015.

                          ____________________