AUSTIN

The state Senate passed a bill by Sen. Carlos Uresti that would allow online voter registration in Texas.   Senate Bill 315, sent to the House on a bipartisan vote of 22-9, would add voter registration to the increasing number of government services and functions available online, making it easier for Texans to participate in the political process.  "Voting is a fundamental right and a public duty in our democracy, yet many Texans don't participate in the electoral process," Uresti said. "Online voter registration will encourage more people to participate by making the registration process easier and more convenient."   Under the bill, eligible voters could register online if they possess a valid driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety. For those who do not have such documents, a website would provide a convenient way to register that minimizes typographical and transcription errors by submitting the voter's information on a mail-in card.  Uresti said the measure would boost voter rolls, encourage young adults to get involved in the political process, and lead to greater turnout on Election Day.   Currently 12 states offer online paperless voter registration, two others are in the process of implementing laws to do so.   Arizona, the first state to offer online registration in 2002, experienced a 9.5 percent increase in the number of people signing up to vote in just the first two years. More than 70 percent of all voter registrations are now performed online in Arizona, according the National Conference of State Legislatures.  Online registration also saves money. According to a 2010 report, "Online Voter Registration: Case Studies in Arizona and Washington," each paper registration costs 83 cents, compared to 3 cents for registering online.   "My bill simply acknowledges that we live in the electronic age," Uresti said. "It's time we brought the voter registration process into the 21st Century."

Sen. Uresti represents Senate District 19, which covers more than 35,000 square miles and contains all or part of 17 counties, two international ports of entry, ten state parks, 51 school districts, almost 9,000 miles of highways and county roads, and more than 29,000 producing oil and gas wells. The district is larger than 11 states and 124 Nations, and contains almost 400 miles of the Texas-Mexico border.