Iowans can register to vote online

DES MOINES - Iowans can register to vote online under a new program unveiled Monday.

The new online voter registration program, which allows Iowa residents with a valid driver's license or state identification card to register to vote online, is a joint effort of the state Secretary of State's office and the Department of Transportation.

'This was one of my top goals when I returned to Secretary of State last year, was to help increase voter participation in Iowa and to make sure that everyone has an opportunity, who's eligible in Iowa, to register to vote and to be able to participate in the process,” Secretary of State Paul Pate said Monday. 'Electronic voter registration is one more step in the process toward making voting more accessible to Iowans.”

A link to the online voter registration form can be found on the homepage of the Secretary of State's office, sos.iowa.gov.

Those who wish to register to vote must provide basic information and a valid Iowa driver's license or state identification card number.

'We can increase voter participation without sacrificing integrity,” Pate said.

Pate said online registration provides another easy, yet safe, method for the 93 percent of Iowans who have a driver's license or state ID. He said his office is willing to examine ways to offer the online service to those residents who do not have either of those forms of identification.

Iowa residents still may register to vote in myriad other ways: through the mail, at driver's licensing stations, government agency offices, during sponsored voter registration drives, and at the polls on Election Day.

Pate and DOT official Mark Lowe said the program was developed by taking advantage of systems already in place and did not cost additional taxpayer funds.

Pate said his office has not estimated how many people will take advantage of the new program or whether it will help increase participation in the Feb. 1 presidential precinct caucuses.