Thirty-one thousand Illinois citizens registered to vote online and more than a third of the applications arrived two days before last week’s deadline, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Illinois began offering online voter registration in July, joining 23 other states that have enacted similar laws in recent years. With more citizens going online, it is encouraging that increasingly more states have harnessed the Internet to expand voter registration options for their citizens. Learn more about online voter registration here.
“Midterm elections typically see lower turnout, and the negative tone of the governor’s race could result in voter apathy,” wrote Amanda Vinicky at Northern Public Radio‘s WNIJ News. “But the online registration is one of several changes this election year that could drive up turnout in Illinois.”
Illinois citizens may also register to vote during the “Grace Period,” which is in effect through and including Election Day. Once registered, the voter may cast a ballot.