Governor Josh Shapiro (D) of Pennsylvania has implemented a system for automatic voter registration.

On Tuesday, Governor Josh Shapiro (D) of Pennsylvania declared that the state will implement an automatic voter registration system for individuals who acquire a driver’s license or any other form of state identification card.

Pennsylvanians have the option to not register for their IDs when they obtain or renew them, but they must actively choose to opt out of the process.

Shapiro possessed the authority to effect the alteration without enacting fresh legislation.

“I am dedicated to guaranteeing free and fair elections in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of our democracy,” stated Shapiro, the Governor. “Implementing automatic voter registration is a logical measure to safeguard election integrity and save both time and taxpayer money for the people of Pennsylvania.”

Pennsylvania is the 24th state to adopt automatic voter registration.

Research has indicated that the implementation of the policy is associated with increased voter registration and turnout.

Democrats have long argued that making it easier to register to vote, as well as to vote, leads to expanded voter participation. They also tend to believe that their party benefits from higher turnout among low-income residents and other people who vote less frequently, though that theory has been disputed in recent years.

In Pennsylvania, 8.7 million residents were registered to vote as of December 2022, even as the U.S. Census suggestsThere are 10.3 million individuals who are eligible to register.

Pennsylvania, known as the Keystone State, is anticipated to be a crucial battleground in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The outcome of this election could potentially decide whether President Joe Biden will continue to hold office at the White House. Additionally, Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is set to face reelection in 2024, and it is predicted to be a closely contested race.