The Illinois Senate has again approved a plan to automatically register people to vote. It comes despite an earlier veto of the legislation by the governor. Automatic voter registration had strong bipartisan support when legislators first approved it earlier this year. But in vetoing the proposal, Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, warned that non-citizens could be registered.
Not so, says Sen. Andy Manar, a Democrat from the Springfield area. He says there are adequate safeguards. He also says automatic registration is a way to streamline Illinois government.
"Let's get rid of these lines that occurred a week ago for same-day registration. Happened all over the state."
The Senate overrode the veto despite most Republicans siding with the governor. The measure still has to get through the House, where Democrats have had a harder time overcoming Rauner's vetoes.
