JEFFERSON CITY—Senator Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, today unveiled a new link on her official Missouri Senate website to help citizens register to vote online and answer any questions they may have regarding Missouri’s voting procedures.

“Public engagement is critical to a healthy, functioning democracy, and the best way to do that is by voting,” said Sen. Walsh. “Many people don’t exercise that right, though. Voter turnout has steadily declined over the years, and I think one of the biggest reasons is simply a lack of easily accessible, and plainly worded, information on how to vote, especially registering. The link provided on my site makes the registration process easy, convenient, and simple.”

The online registration program, created by the Secretary of State’s office, will allow eligible Missourians to fill out their registration form for the first time or change their registration address. Once the voter completes and signs the form on a computer, tablet or smartphone, the Secretary of State’s office will print and mail the form to the voter’s local election authority.

The site also answers general questions regarding the voting process, lists upcoming elections and details how members of the military and Missourians living abroad can cast their ballot.

Many other states, including Kansas, already use online programs for voter registration.  Various other states are currently considering similar options.

Senator Walsh hopes the new registration tool will boost voter participation, particularly among younger citizens. 

“The world’s changing, and we have to change with it. As a state, we must make every effort to modernize our government, especially as new generations come of age. For a lot of younger adults, filling out a paper form in person seems antiquated, especially when most everything else can be done online now,” said Sen. Walsh. “I think the new voter registration tool is a wonderful example of how we can use technology to improve public services and reach more segments of the population.”  

To view the new link on Sen. Walsh’s Senate website, visit www.senate.mo.gov/walsh and click the “Vote Missouri” logo on the right-hand side of the page.