House OK's Online Voter Registration

Coloradoans could soon be registering to vote online, at least if a bill approved by the House Monday makes it into law.

Under HB 1160, a qualified elector could register to vote, or make changes in their voter registration, if they have a digital signature on file with one or more state databases, including the driver license and motor vehicle registration databases, the state income tax database, the motorist insurance database, or the state's voter registration database.

The bill would require the secretary of state to create and maintain a "fully secure" website to accommodate the online voter registration system. It would impose a deadline of April 1, 2010 for the online system to be made available.

HB 1160 was approved overwhelmingly on a 60-4 vote. The only opponents were Republicans Cory Gardner of Yuma, Kent Lambert of Colorado Springs, B.J. Nickell of Berthoud and Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, and Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins.

It must be approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Bill Ritter before becoming law.