North Carolina takes innovative approach to voter registration

Even before a global health pandemic, government agencies were working on new ways to provide essential services to their citizens. One could argue the most essential service a government can offer is providing citizens with every avenue to exercise their Constitutional right to vote.

“The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of a private citizen.” – Louis Brandeis, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1916–39)

There is no doubt that COVID-19 has turned things upside down. But, even in these times of challenge, innovation is taking place in the government sector. In late March 2020, North Carolina’s State Board of Elections and Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) announced a partnership that allows North Carolina residents to register to vote or update their voter registration information online.

This was made available in myNCDMV, the official website and mobile app of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. This service can be completed without having to make a DMV transaction, meaning any unregistered North Carolina resident can register to vote at payments.ncdot.gov for free.

“We’re excited for this service,” said Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the State Board of Elections. “It’s another way we can help North Carolina voters while we practice social distancing.”

NCDMV Commissioner Torre Jessup continued, “It made sense to collaborate with the State Board of Elections to now offer that same process without requiring a transaction so we could provide a valuable and convenient service for North Carolinians.”

With election season in full swing, citizens of North Carolina are still able to leverage this contactless voter registration method. The deadline to register online is Friday, October 9, 2020. For more information, the people of North Carolina can visit: https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx

Additional NC voter resources:

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