To: The Maryland State Senate
Make it easier to vote in Maryland, not harder
Victory! The creator of this petition declared the campaign a success. You can still sign the petition to show support.
HB1007, the Freedom to Vote Act, is before the Maryland Senate. This bill would automatically register eligible Maryland citizens to vote when they get or update a driver's license. It would also require Maryland's public colleges and universities to allow students to register to vote through the online portals they use to sign up for classes. As your constituent, I am asking you to vote for the Freedom to Vote Act and make it easier, not harder to vote in Maryland.
Why is this important?
Update 4/12/16:
Last night the Maryland legislature passed the Freedom to Vote Act, and it goes on to the Governor to sign. Note that this is only a partial victory: the legislation was watered down a lot so it no longer includes automatic voter registration. It does, however, make it easier to register to vote in Maryland for college students and others accessing state services- so this is a partial victory. The legislature has adjourned for 2016, so we can try again next year for full automatic voter registration.
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The Maryland Senate is considering a new bill (HB1007), the Freedom to Vote Act. It has passed the House and may come up for a floor vote in the Senate today (Monday) before they adjourn for the year.
This bill would automatically register Maryland citizens to vote when they get or update a driver's license. It would also require Maryland’s public colleges and universities to allow students to register to vote through the online portals they use to sign up for classes.
Automatic voter registration has been a success in Oregon and was recently passed in California. It's time for Maryland to make it easier, not harder for eligible citizens to register to vote.
References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/it-could-get-much-easier-to-register-to-vote-in-maryland/2016/03/03/46351bf4-e14c-11e5-846c-10191d1fc4ec_story.html
https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/automatic-voter-registration-oregon-huge-success
Last night the Maryland legislature passed the Freedom to Vote Act, and it goes on to the Governor to sign. Note that this is only a partial victory: the legislation was watered down a lot so it no longer includes automatic voter registration. It does, however, make it easier to register to vote in Maryland for college students and others accessing state services- so this is a partial victory. The legislature has adjourned for 2016, so we can try again next year for full automatic voter registration.
-
The Maryland Senate is considering a new bill (HB1007), the Freedom to Vote Act. It has passed the House and may come up for a floor vote in the Senate today (Monday) before they adjourn for the year.
This bill would automatically register Maryland citizens to vote when they get or update a driver's license. It would also require Maryland’s public colleges and universities to allow students to register to vote through the online portals they use to sign up for classes.
Automatic voter registration has been a success in Oregon and was recently passed in California. It's time for Maryland to make it easier, not harder for eligible citizens to register to vote.
References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/it-could-get-much-easier-to-register-to-vote-in-maryland/2016/03/03/46351bf4-e14c-11e5-846c-10191d1fc4ec_story.html
https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/automatic-voter-registration-oregon-huge-success