Heartland Democracy issues report, testifies on automatic voter registration in Minnesota

Following the February release of Heartland Democracy’s report on voter registration reforms, Tom Vellenga, president of Heartland Democracy and Erin Sapp, election reform project director, both testified before three committees of the Minnesota Legislature on bills (HF 1053 and SF 660) to implement automatic voter registration. 

According to Heartland Democracy, HF 1053 and its companion measure, SF 660, would allow the Secretary of State’s office to make voter registration automatic for processes such as citizens obtaining or renewing their driver’s licenses. Introduced at the behest of the Office of the Secretary of State after their staff’s own study, the legislation would eliminate many of the errors in voter registration that have come to light since last November’s election. 

Several House and Senate committees have passed SF 660 and HF 1053. While this is the case, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Republican legislators have not expressed any certainty toward signing the bills.

Vellenga and Sapp testified along with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie in support of these bills.