By: Journalist Allison McCray (OSU)
Representative Krislyn Sherer, hailing from the University of Oklahoma, is a junior studying Sociology with minors in Political Science and History.
Sherer presented her bill Friday morning on creating an automatic voter registration system for voters in Oklahoma. As it stands, eligible Oklahoma residents have an opt-in system to vote, meaning this bill would flip it so that people would have to opt-out.
“Everybody deserves the right to vote as long as they are qualified and eligible,” Rep. Sherer said. “Voting has always been an issue I am very passionate about.”
Oklahoma is currently last in voter turnout in the United States. This includes United States territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico.
“The more people we have who are eligible to show up, the more voices we have for Oklahoma voters,” Rep. Sherer said. “At the end of the day, all I want is a truly representative government, and we do not get that until everyone who is eligible to vote gets registered.”
Sherer was the second to go, and Sherer said she could tell people were still tired and the energy was down. When debate was not called, she started getting nervous about how voting would go. Debating might have helped her bill the first time, but without debate, it failed.
The bill was brought back later in the day for reconsideration and passed 52-18.
Sherer’s bill was inspired by Michigan’s automatic voter system, which is already in place. She said she is also passionate about voting, which is helpful to how she presents and the thought she put behind her bill.
Sherer also went and talked to people in House chambers to see what they needed clarification on. She cleared up many questions people had, and it helped her in the end. Sherer said she was happy in the end and encouraged everyone to vote when they can.