Voting is a fundamental right that every US citizen is entitled to have. It is not a Democratic, Republican, or Independent issue, but one that spans across the political spectrum. With the 2016 presidential election coming up on November 8th, all Americans should be able to let their voices be heard.

Illinois has nearly 10 million residents over the age of 18, but only 7.6 million are registered to vote and fewer than 40% went to vote during the 2014 election. Currently, there are roughly 2 million Americans who are not registered to vote in Illinois. 

A bill, SB250, has been introduced to allow the state to automatically register eligible voters while they are applying for, updating, or renewing driver’s licenses or state ID at the DMV. Illinoisans who do not wish to register have the opportunity to opt out.

Automatic voter registration would not only increase voter participation, but it would also reduce red tape and save the state money. During the Illinois primary in 2016, only 36.9% of citizens went to cast their vote. The statistics are even more appalling with young voters. In the 2014 midterm elections, merely 16.3% of 18-29 year olds went to the polls. We need to boost civic engagement especially with young voters. By law, Illinois driver’s licenses of drivers under the age of 21 expire three months after their 21st birthday. Because they have to go to the DMV to renew them, they would also under the proposed bill be automatically registered to vote.

Furthermore, the bill would remove unnecessary barriers for citizens trying to exercise their right to vote. According to a Pew study, there are 24 million residents in the US whose voter registrations contain serious errors or out-of-date information that would potentially prevent citizens from voting. With an important presidential election coming up on November 8th, no American should be denied their right to vote because they forgot to update their voter registration. Automatic voter registration would increase accuracy.

Finally, automatically registering voters would reduce the inefficient use of taxpayer dollars and save the state millions. Following its implementation in Maricopa County, Arizona, the cost to process a voter’s registration went from $0.83 per vote to just $0.03 per vote.

Therefore, Illinois needs to follow the example set by Oregon, California, and West Virginia and pass automatic voter registration and guarantee every American their right to have a say in their government.