Kentuckians will be able to register to vote electronically in 2016

Will be similar to portal used for military and overseas voters

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2015) — All eligible Kentuckians will be able to register to vote electronically beginning with the 2016 Presidential election cycle, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced today in a press conference at the Louisville League of Women Voters.

“Electronic voter registration levels the playing field, giving all eligible citizens a convenient, secure way to register to vote and update their information,” said Grimes. “I’m proud to lead the charge in passing this bipartisan initiative to break down barriers to the ballot box and increase participation in our elections. We are finally moving our registration process into the 21st century.”

The system will be similar to the online portal already in place for military and overseas voters. More than 700 voters have used the portal, which has received national praise.

“If it can work for our military members in Iraq, it can work for our voters in Inez,” said Grimes. “Our existing portal has been a tremendous success, and I am excited to bring the same accessibility and functionality to all voters in Kentucky.”

All living former Kentucky secretaries of state have endorsed electronic voter registration. The practice was also recommended by the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, a bipartisan task force on which former secretary Trey Grayson served, and is endorsed by the Republican National Lawyers Association and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

“Electronic voter registration systems improve the accuracy of voter rolls and reduce the costs of list maintenance,” Grayson said. “I am glad to see Kentucky join the growing number of states that are taking advantage of this resource to improve the administration of elections.”