Pa. drops online voter registration, saying too much work before November

City Commission Chairwoman Stephanie Singer is skeptical about the state’s reasoning for its decision to drop two online voting initiatives.

The Corbett administration dropped plans to allow voters to register online and to apply online for absentee ballots, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week. The state cited county election officials saying it would be too much work to implement before the November election.

City Commission Chairwoman Stephanie Singer, who leads the office that runs city elections and has been vocal about her office using technology to be more transparent and efficient, was skeptical about the state’s explanation for the decision, the Inquirer reported.

From the report:

Singer, chairwoman of the City Commissioners, said no one spoke to her about the issue and she said she was unsure whether implementing the online system would have created more work.

“It’s a shame,” Singer said of the Department of State’s decision. “These are the kinds of reforms that help us do our jobs better. Less time on paperwork means more time training election officials and following up on issues that arise.”

Moreover, she said, the state is spending millions on voter ID while postponing projects that some believe do more to preserve the integrity of elections than voter ID. [more]

Meanwhile, in Washington state, you can now register to vote on Facebook.