Vote.org Applauds Federal Appeals Court for Key Voting Rights Decision

Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey issued the following statement after the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Arkansas cannot require voters to use a handwritten signature to register to vote, blocking a rule that effectively banned online voter registration tools in the state. Vote.org was a plaintiff in the case.

"Today's ruling is a major win for voters in Arkansas and for everyone who believes registering to vote should be simple, accessible, and built for the world we actually live in.

"Requiring Arkansans to sign a voter registration form with a physical pen — and only a physical pen — is about as modern as requiring them to fax in a job application. New voters turning 18 this year were born in 2008. They have only ever known a digital world — one filled with smartphones, digital wallets, and electronic signatures. The idea that their voter registration form is the one document in their lives that requires a ballpoint pen and paper is outdated, impractical, and inconsistent with how people interact with the world today.

"The court got this right. Arkansas could not point to a single piece of evidence that wet signatures help determine whether someone is qualified to vote — because they don't. What they do is make it harder for eligible voters, particularly young people, to register.

"Vote.org is proud to have been a part of this lawsuit, and we will keep fighting to remove every unnecessary obstacle between eligible Americans and the ballot box."

About Vote.org

Vote.org is a 501(c)(3) that uses technology to simplify voter participation and increase turnout nationwide. It is the largest nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in the United States. Through corporate and nonprofit partnerships, a large-scale community of grassroots donors, diverse coalition building, and digital outreach, Vote.org leverages innovative solutions that help eligible voters register, understand their options, and successfully cast a ballot. These efforts have established Vote.org as the most trusted and accessible online resource for voter registration and election information, providing clear, reliable guidance at scale so voters can access accurate information when, where, and how they need it.