Improved state voter registration system now working

[Bushfire]

Database will check names against felons, dead people

By PATRICK MARLEY
[e-mail]

Posted: Aug. 8, 2008

Madison - After 2 1/2 years of delays, a lawsuit and a troubled contract with a software vendor, Wisconsin's voter registration system is now fully functional and complies with federal law, according to state officials.

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The system will check to make sure voters’ names exactly match the names and numbers on their driver’s licenses. When the records don’t match, the system will automatically generate a letter telling the voter to contact his or her municipal clerk.

That means voters who use a middle initial to apply for a driver’s license but don’t use it to register to vote will have to follow up with local officials to explain the discrepancies. The same thing will happen for those who use different variations of a name — say, “Dave” and “David” — on different records.

People with those kinds of minor discrepancies will still be eligible to vote, even if they don’t resolve the matter with election officials. But if clerks suspect fraud — such as when they believe ineligible felons have registered to vote — they will contact prosecutors, Robinson said.

People who believe they registered in advance but find they are not on the voter rolls can register at the polls in Wisconsin.

more

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=781059

let's get the word out that new voters need to be prepared to bring their utility bills with them just in case.

[LiberalFighter]

1. Call the local voter registration office to confirm registration.